Wednesday 10 April 2019

Avoid Ear Buds - an ENT Surgeon explain

Image result for cotton ear buds

I have to confess that I have ear buds at home - but after reading the information from this expert I will stop probing my ears.

A lot of people believe a 'wax-free' ear is clean.  However, wax is not dirty and has nothing to do with hygiene.  In fact, it is the body's way of shielding  the delicate inner workings of the ear, and helps to protect your precious hearing.

Sarah Little is a Consultant ENT (Ear, Nose Throat) surgeon at St. George's NHS Trust in London. She says:
"Most people seem determined to dig out wax from their ears, using everything from pens to paperclips and cotton buds, which often end up pushing the wax deeper into the ear canal. We see far more problems from over-aggressive attempts to clean wax than we see from having an accumulation of wax. Stick to using a warm, clean flannel instead."

Also, cotton swabs can cause punctured ear drums and hearing loss. In severe cases, the cotton swab can damage many sensitive structures behind the ear canal and cause complete deafness, prolonged vertigo with nausea and vomiting, loss of taste function, and even facial paralysis


No comments:

Post a Comment