Ask Dr Mehta
Have a question about your nose, ears, throat, allergy, or your child’s sleep and breathing? Ask here. Dr Pranshu Mehta personally answers selected questions every week — and the answers stay here for everyone to learn from.
💬 Ask Your Question
Submitted questions are reviewed weekly. Selected questions are answered publicly below (your name is never published — only your question and Dr Mehta’s answer). For urgent personal concerns, please WhatsApp the clinic directly instead.
Recently Answered
A growing archive of real questions from patients and parents, answered personally by Dr Pranshu Mehta.
My 6-year-old snores every night and breathes through his mouth even during the day. Should I be worried?
Dr Mehta’s Answer: Yes, this is worth a proper evaluation — not because it’s necessarily serious, but because it’s very treatable if caught early. Snoring most nights, combined with daytime mouth breathing, is one of the clearest signs of sleep-disordered breathing in children, usually from enlarged adenoids or tonsils, allergic nasal blockage, or both. Left unaddressed for years, it can affect jaw and facial development, concentration, and growth. A simple in-clinic nasal endoscopy and a structured history can tell us a lot in one visit. I’d recommend the free “Is My Child’s Snoring Normal?” screening on our website as a starting point, then a proper evaluation if it flags concern.
I’ve been sneezing every morning for years and just take an antihistamine when it’s bad. Is there an actual cure, or is this just how it’ll always be?
Dr Mehta’s Answer: Antihistamines control symptoms but don’t change the underlying allergy — which is why you’re still dealing with this years later. A Skin Prick Test can identify exactly what you’re reacting to (commonly dust mite or cockroach in Delhi homes), and from there, allergen immunotherapy — allergy drops or injections — is the only treatment that actually retrains your immune system over time. Many patients see significant, lasting improvement after a 3–5 year course, even after stopping. It’s a longer commitment than a tablet, but it’s the closest thing to an actual fix rather than ongoing management.
My Apple Watch keeps flagging “elevated breathing disturbances” during sleep. Do I need to panic, or is this normal watch noise?
Dr Mehta’s Answer: Not panic — but worth taking seriously. Modern smartwatches are increasingly accurate at flagging patterns associated with sleep apnea, though they’re a screening signal, not a diagnosis. If you’re seeing this repeatedly rather than as a one-off, it’s worth sharing that data with an ENT or sleep specialist alongside a few basic questions: do you snore, wake up tired, or has anyone noticed you stop breathing briefly at night? You can share your watch data directly with me through our website’s Sleep Data tool, and I’ll review it and tell you whether a formal sleep study makes sense.
I woke up yesterday and my hearing in one ear felt muffled, like it’s blocked. Should I just wait it out or see someone?
Dr Mehta’s Answer: Please don’t wait this one out — see an ENT within the next day or two if possible. A sudden change in hearing, even if it feels like “just blocked,” can occasionally be Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss, which is a genuine medical emergency. Treatment with corticosteroids is most effective when started within 72 hours of onset, and the chances of recovery drop significantly after that window closes. Most causes of sudden muffled hearing are far less serious — wax, fluid, a cold — but it’s not something to self-diagnose from home. WhatsApp the clinic directly if this is happening now.
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