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On this page you will find discussions about common questions we encounter in our clinic. It will be updated as often as possible. Remember, this is not s substitute to seeing your physician when a health problem arises.
Although Q-tips can help remove wax from the ears, they unfortunately have the tendency to push wax deeper into the ear, magnifying the problem. Also, since the ear canal is lined with bone deeper in the ear canal, and in some areas only one to two cell layers thick, it is very easy to tear or cut the ear canal, leading to pain, or even worse, infection.
Instead, use a Kleenex wrapped over a finger to clean the outside edge of the ear canal after a shower or bath. This will catch the wax that is naturally being moved to the outside edge of your ear canal without packing wax further in the canal. If this fails, you should see your ear, nose and throat physician.
Although blowing your nose relieves the congestion and removes the material from your nasal passages, it may actually work against the natural flow of things. Usually, our nose fills with thick secretions when fighting off an infection. During this time the sinuses are working overtime to move the secretions from deep in the sinus cavities into the nasal passages. Forceful nose blowing will clear the passages, but if strong enough, it can push these secretions backward, deeper into the sinuses. "TWO STEPS FORWARD, ONE STEP BACK." If tolerated, the act of deep sniffing, and then clearing the secretions from the back of your nose and throat actually works more in sync with your sinuses, helping to prevent progression of the cold to an infection.
The head congestion that often accompanies a cold combined with the rapid change in barometric pressure during airplane descent can lead to some painful and occasionally damaging effects.
What should you do if you find yourself developing a head cold days before a scheduled flight. First, try to get in to see your ENT physician. If that becomes impossible, a decongestant taken about one hour before the plane lands will increase your chance of being able to clear your ears. Afrin, although dangerous if used more than three days, can help clear your ears during descent.
Remember, this may not guarantee that you will avoid a serious complication. Seeing your ENT physician is the best chance to avoid a potentially serious problem.
Because our head is at the top of our body, we can take advantage of gravity to prevent fluid build-up in the tissues of our nasal and sinus passages. When we feel ill, it is a natural tendency to go 'lay down.' Whether we are sick or not, lying down worsens head congestion. Therefore, remember, try to rest in a head elevated position, or sleep up in a recliner if your have a head cold.
Here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we are blessed with weather that allows a wide range of outdoor activities. Although we are able to enjoy the great outdoors, we must also be aware of how local weather can affect our health.
In our Mississippi Sound (that gulf water that is north of our barrier islands), and more specifically the quality of the water just off our beaches is very weather dependent. During times of little or no rain, the water quality improves. Our many local fishermen will attest to that fact.
However, during periods of heavy rain, our water quality decreases, due to the increased run-off from the nearby land. Luckily, we rarely have water conditions that can lead to illness. To learn the current status of the beach/water quality on the gulf coast, go to www.ims.usm.edu/msbeach
We get plenty of sunshine, which most of us know, can lead to painful sunburn if not careful. However, there are other effects of the sun that are not as well known.
Skin Cancer is unfortunately directly related to sun exposure. Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, has been associated with sunburn in early childhood. Remember, lube up your small children with at least SPF 30 before going into the sun.
Immune Suppression is a poorly recognized side effect of excessive sun exposure. Fever blisters, upper respiratory illnesses, and other infectious diseases often follow a large dose of sun. Studies have shown that the sun penetrates our skin and destroys the cells under our skin that protect us from infection. A good dose of sunscreen can prevent those ugly fever blisters and a visit to the doctor.
In general, exercise is an energy booster. Numerous well-controlled medical studies have shown that exercise energizes people. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1994, showed that people who begin to strength train as old as 70 not only got stronger but became more physically active.
Exercise also has the ability to increase the circulation an entire network of vessels in our body that is important in immunity. This network of vessels, the lymphatic system, extends to the far reached of our body, filtering our body fluid, what we are exposed, to through the hundreds of lymph nodes. It is in these lymph nodes, and our spleen, that our immune system does its work to protect our body from viruses, bacteria and other foreign substances that create illness.
This lymphatic network of vessels in each of our bodies has no pump to circulate the fluid, like the heart does for the arteries and veins. Exercise circulates the fluid in the lymphatic system, exposing more of the substances our body has to deal with to the lymph nodes and spleen, thus increasing the efficiency of our immunity.
Exercise has been shown in a 1999 research study to increase the division of brain cells. Remember, when a cell divides, the new cell is young, but usually has the same function of the cell it came from. This is exciting to think that exercise can create a more youthful brain.
Although we cannot always avoid the occasional head cold or sinus infection, there are a few tricks this time of year that we can do to help resist infection. Our balance with the environment is a key to health and healing. Our body's organs and systems have an inherent property called Homeostasis, that through energy expenditure, constantly works to maintain a near perfect balance of proteins, carbohydrates, ions, and hydration. Much of what causes illness is extremes of exposures that upset this balance of energy. Usually it's factors such as the weather, things we ingest, excessive mental work (stress), lack of restful sleep, or an airborne environmental exposure that disrupt this balance. These factors also affect each other and problems with one of them, often makes the others worse. (Our job is to consciously assist our body in its efforts to maintain this balance through education and action.)
Through normal interactions with others in our world we often contract viruses that create nasal congestion, and then initiate many of the head and chest colds that are common this time of year. Nasal congestion not only leads to sinus, ear, and occasional chest infections, but it also results in mouth breathing during sleep. In addition to disrupting our sleep, mouth breathing also dries the throat, making us susceptible to throat infections. Nasal congestion usually causes decreased smell and taste which often leads to a loss of appetite and therefore general weakness. And let's not forget allergy. I have found that large exposures to dust, pollen, allergic foods or other airborne particles are common causes of nasal irritation and precursors to many illnesses. Any extreme exposure will lower our body's natural resistance to these viruses and often lead to a full-blown infection.
In the winter months we are also susceptible to dehydration. Locally, we live in a generally humid environment most of the year. However, the rapid decrease in air temperature and humidity associated with cold weather fronts, along with running the heater, dries our nose. This challenges our nose to do its most important function: to moisturize, warm and filter incoming air. Like an air conditioner or heater that prepares air for us to breath, the tissue lining both sides our internal nasal walls filter, warm and humidify the air we breath. Cold dry air will lead to internal nasal dryness, as the nasal tissue gives up its moisture to the incoming air. This lowers our resistance in many ways.
Nose dryness can lead to a breakdown in the lining of the nose, occasionally causing bleeding and allowing airborne viruses easy access into our body. Nasal saltwater sprays, available over the counter in most drug stores, keep the nose moist and therefore your resistance up. Not only is this good in dry weather, but it's also helpful in some occupations or home hobbies where adverse nasal exposures are frequent.
Diet selection and maintenance of nutrition also play a role in avoiding illness. Our digestive system is exposed to whatever we choose eat or drink. Overeating and drinking too much of any single substance (esp. Alcohol) will stress our body and cause it to expend extra energy to maintain a normal balance. Additionally, a common side effect of drinking alcohol is nasal congestion. If you know or suspect you're coming down with a head cold, avoiding alcohol will keep your nasal passages open, especially during sleep. Getting a good night's rest will recharge your body giving it the energy to resist the progression of an illness. I've also observed that after a few days into an illness, patients will often admit to eating as little as two crackers in an entire day. Unfortunately poor nutrition only weakens the immune system allowing whatever is causing the illness to linger beyond the normal duration. Always maintain a good quality and quantity of nutritional intake when fighting an infection.
A brief word about mental stress. Try to see the good in all stressful situations. Create ways to really "give your mind a rest ," Through diversion, meditation, relaxation, prayer or even exercise. If you identify that stressful events in your life are affecting your health, rise up and make progress toward reducing that stress and therefore improving your health.
Medical science is currently experiencing a surge of interest and knowledge about the complexity and importance of sleep. Not only is restless sleep essential to normal body function, general health and healing, the lack of sleep leads to multiple ailments, including infections. Symptoms of sleep apnea, such as waking out of breath, pausing in breathing while sleeping, and daytime sleepiness, should be addressed and treated. This will ensure our daily health, longevity, and resistance to illness. Caffeine, decongestants, alcohol, excessive stress and poor diet can also hinder good sleep and lower our resistance to disease. The take home message: take charge and get a good night's sleep.
Any discussion of health maintenance would not be complete without a word about stress management and happiness. Compared to just ten years ago, we humans are mentally pushed to new limits with the advent of technology. Computers, e-mail, cell phones, beepers, multimedia, faxes, and more allow us to push our brains to new limits, often with no downtime. The energy demands can be enormous and truly drain our body's energy needed to fight off illness. New studies continue to confirm that our immune system's ability to fight infection is reduced by stress and enhanced by peace and happiness.
Balance the increased pace with moments of rest through time management. Allowing mental diversions such as a brief nature walk are essential to allow our brain to recharge. By making time to give our awesome brain a rest throughout the day and you will do a better job at your task, feel healthier and be happier.
Of course, exercise, in moderation is a great way to keep your immune system primed and your resistance up. However, I do asked my patients who are fighting an infection and include running or other Gym work in their daily routine, to exercise at 50% of their normal level. Because of the energy demands of fighting an illness, a vigorous workout can occasionally make an illness worse.
Body positioning can play an important role in avoiding illness. If you feel an illness with head congestion coming on, do not lay down if you're attempting to rest. Lying down actually magnifies the problem and increases the likelihood of a head cold developing into a full-blown sinus infection. Instead, position yourself in a recliner with your head upright.
In children, room air humidification, along with an increase of thinner, more hydrating liquids such as juices rather than milk can reduce a child's likelihood of developing a full-blown infection that usually requires a round of antibiotics.
In summary, remember that a proper balance of all these exposures we encounter is intimately related with our resistance to illness and our sense of energy and wellness. Keeping things in moderation, relative to our bodies own effort toward balance leads to a conservation of energy, a stronger immune system, and a healthier life.
How to check yourself for signs of stress.
We often have physical responses to stress that occur unconsciously and go unnoticed. Like we take our temperature to determine the status of our body at that moment, we can also perform quick checks of these unconscious responses to measure how our body is responding to our present or recent mental activities.
Many studies now confirm that it doesn't take long when we are stressed to lower our immunity and resistance to disease. You never know where or when you will encounter that virus or bacteria that could give you days of misery as an infection. Like the temperature and fuel gauges on our car's dashboard, these measures below can help make sure our awesome body is not running hot or out of gas.
Below are a few ways to check your stress level, and identify ways to reduce stress.
1. During the day, check to see if you are clenching, biting down or grinding your teeth? Does opening your mouth wide seems to stretch out muscles you have been keeping contracted? Has your spouse heard you grinding your teeth during sleep? Have you ever woken in the night or early morning with ear pain? Ear pain or fullness, headaches in the temples, and very mild hearing loss are often the signs of this condition, that is worsened or entirely due to stress. It is also known as TMJ, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. It can also irritate your jawbone, and the side of your neck near and under your jaw. [Click here for a full description of TMJ diagnosis and treatment-link to Ear (Jaw) Pain]To combat these symptoms, and stress, let your mouth fall open and your teeth remain apart while at rest or at work. Stretch your jaw open widely, by placing two to three knuckles between your upper and lower front teeth. Leave small post-it notes in places you spend time, such as your workstation, kitchen, and both bathroom and rearview mirrors that say. "Are you clenching?"
2. Check to make sure you are not keeping the muscles of your upper back and neck tensed. Drop your shoulders as close to the floor as possible right now. Did they go down very much? Where you keeping them raised? This is another common response to stress that requires a muscle from the back of your head to your upper back to remain tensed. This creates neck and upper back pain. Roll your shoulders throughout the day, raising and lowering them to make sure you are not staying tense.
3. Check with your fingertip, or by a quick glance in the mirror, to make sure the skin of your forehead is not wrinkled. In another response to stress, we often unconsciously hold our eyebrows in a raised position, or push our eyebrows together as we focus our attention on a task. This sustained position requires small muscles in the forehead the remained contracted. With time, muscle fatigue will lead to a headache. Remember to check, or ask a friendly colleague to remind you if they see you doing this.
4. Tune in to your Breathing. A common response to personal stress is to hold your breath, or breathe shallow. This type of breathing, like the other stress responses, is usually an unconscious event. Make a reminder to pay attention to your breathing when at work, during busy times at home, while driving in traffic or during any other task or situation that you have identified as stressful. You will likely be surprised at what you discover. Slow deep breathing has been shown to have many therapeutic benefits. It can lower blood pressure, heart rate, improve lung function and energy level, and directly reduce stress. Try slow deep breathing, you will feel the benefits.
5. Monitor your heart rate. When our body is pushed, especially physically, our heart must increase the times it beats every minute in order to help our body keep up with the higher energy demands. Although mental stress is not typically considered something that raises our heart rate, it can. By applying any of the many available stress reduction techniques, you will notice your ability to lower your heart rate. This is also known as biofeedback. This will result in less energy consumption and a sense of feeling better.
As you perform self-scans you will undoubtedly become more attuned to your body's physical responses, yourself and your stress. Put our website on you favorite list to gain these and other benefits our site can add to improve your health.
Print this short checklist below, and post it for a few months in a place, such as work, in the kitchen, or other places your spend significant time. See how your body is responding to your lifestyle.
Am I clenching my teeth?
Are my shoulders raised, muscles tensed?
Are my brow or forehead muscles tensed?
Am I breath holding or breathing shallow?
What is my pulse?
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