Cotton swabs or cotton buds, are commonly used in our daily lifestyle. Many people use it for various purposes, such as make-up, bacterial culture, and most commonly for extracting wax and debris from the ear. Even though they are sometimes handy in our busy schedule, they usually cause much more harm than benefits.

How are they misused?
Cotton buds are toothpick like pieces made of wood, plastic, or rolled paper, which have cotton stuck at both ends with a roundish edge. It came into existence during the 1920s for a safe purpose of ear cleaning by Leo Gerstenzang, when he saw his wife cleaning their baby s ear with a toothpick. They are until now used by the general population for ear cleaning, but these hardly remove the outer debris which are stuck near the outer edges. Impressing it inside the ear canal only does further damage, by forcing the inner wax further inside Sometimes extensive force also causes damage to the ear drums.

How does it cause the damage?
Applying a tool like the cotton bud inside the ear with hands usually creates a force that impresses upon the eardrum, also accumulating the surrounding earwax to that area, resulting in impaction of the wax. The force applied most often, if not always, causes a damage to the ear drums, which might cause severe pain, also leading to leakage, causing improper balance, deafness, and certain similar abnormalities.

Alternative measures
Although we are worried about cleaning our ears, it doesn t really require our notice, since our usual showers allow an adequate quantity of water to enter the ears and clean the accumulated debris automatically. The structure, in which our ear canal is designed, is usually naturally assisting in cleaning up the unusual wax around the ear.

If there is an uncontrollable build up of earwax that is not cleaned off normally, you can always consult an ENT or any general physician and get it cleaned under medical surveillance, which is best advised.
Doctors and medical practitioners all around the world have been trying to spread the message of preventing the use of cotton buds for ear cleaning. It is important that the message reach the greater part of the population. Spread it to your family, your closest friends, their friends, and as further, you can reach!

Cotton Buds - Why You Must Not Use Them?

There are two tissue masses (oval shaped) at the backside of the throat and those are known as tonsils. Tonsils trap airborne germs that enter the windpipe through the nostril and such germs can cause infections. So, tonsils don t just trap the germs, they fight the germs by producing antibodies targeted to the germs.

However, tonsils themselves can also get infected if there is an overwhelming presence of viruses or bacteria. In such a situation, the tonsils swell up and become inflamed. This condition is known as tonsillitis.

If the tonsillitis is caused due to the flu virus, it can also cause stomach infection which can lead to  Diarrhea .

Diarrhea is a watery, loose, and more frequent bowel movement problem which causes dehydration and weakness.

Sometimes, both tonsillitis and Diarrhea, are not considered an illness, but these can be symptoms of some other diseases. For example, if a person is suffering from fever, there are chances that he/she may experience tonsillitis and Diarrhea.

Causes -

What Cause Tonsillitis?

Infections from bacteria and viruses are responsible for tonsillitis. The most common bacteria that can precipitate tonsillitis is Streptococcus. And among the viruses that can cause tonsillitis, there are many, such as Influenza virus, adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Enteroviruses, Parainfluenza viruses, Herpes simplex virus, etc.

What Cause Diarrhea

Usually, Diarrhea is caused due to an infection in the gastrointestinal tract. The microorganisms that can cause this infection include:

Viruses

Bacteria

Parasites

Symptoms -

Symptoms of Tonsillitis -

Symptoms of tonsillitis include swelling and inflammation of the tonsils. If the swelling is severe, it may even block airways causing severe distress. Other symptoms include:

Throat tenderness or pain

Redness of tonsils

A yellowish or whitish coating on tonsils

Painful blisters in throat

Headache

Loss of appetite

Ear-ache

Fever and chills

Symptoms of Diarrhea

Stomach ache

Bloating

Abdominal cramps

Weight loss

Vomiting

Fever

Thirst

How Diarrhea is Associated with Tonsillitis? 

Since both, Tonsillitis and Diarrhea can be caused due to the attack of virus or bacteria, so both of these can be associated with each other. This case or condition is most common in young children. Young children who suffer from tonsillitis due to the flu virus may also experience the problem of Diarrhea. They can also experience stomach infection which causes vomiting, stomach ache, dehydration, nausea, etc.

Treatment -

To treat any problem, doctors first identify the cause. In most cases, limiting the causes can help to get rid of the problem. This is also true in the case of Diarrhea associated with Tonsillitis. Doctors first diagnose the problem performing different tests and if both the conditions are caused by the flu virus, doctors will prescribe a few medicines. If the condition is not too severe, then within a week you can see the changes and results.

Take Away -

Though the problem of having both tonsillitis and Diarrhea at the same time might not seem to be associated, it is possible. If this happens due to the attack of the flu virus or any other disease, it is advisable to consult a doctor as soon as possible and get rid of it.

Diarrhoea - Is It Associated With Tonsillitis!

Tinnitus is a disorder which is characterized by a constant perception of a ringing noise in the ears. This is not the condition in itself, rather it signals some other underlying condition such as an ear injury or age related hearing loss. It is not a serious condition, although the symptoms can worsen with age. If you are affected by this disorder, you might experience or  hear  a constant ringing sensation in the ears, even if there are no external sources of noise. These sounds could range from being a buzzing, ringing, to a hissing sound. This condition has mighty chances of interfering with your daily routine.

It is classified into two types:

Objective tinnitus: This disorder is caused by muscle contractions or a blood vessel problem.
Subjective tinnitus: The more commonly occurring type, it is caused by damage to the auditory nerves or regions of the brain that interpret sound.
The causes of this disorder are:

Exposure to loud noise: If you are exposed to loud noises such as the ones emanating from firearms or heavy machinery over a prolonged period, it can lead to tinnitus.
Aging: Aging can cause progressive loss of hearing, thus triggering tinnitus.
Blockage of the ear: There is earwax present in the ears, the function of which is to trap dirt and bacteria. Excessive earwax accumulation leads to loss of hearing, resulting in tinnitus.
Modifications of the ear bone: Any stiffening of the middle bone in the ear could impair your hearing and result in this condition.
Certain factors such as smoking, age, sex (men are prone to this disorder) and heart related disorders increase the risks of being affected by this condition.

Treatment
The treatment of this condition begins with the identification of the underlying condition, if any. The various treatment options are  

Removal of earwax: Excess earwax has gotten rid of which can relieve symptoms of tinnitus.
Suppression of noise: Certain machines, known as white noise machines, produce random sounds such as the sound of rain or the sounds of waves, thus eliminating the  hearing  of sounds which are common to this condition.
Medications: Certain medications such as alprazolam and nortriptyline can help reduce the severity of the symptoms.

Constant Ringing in Ears - Causes + Treatment

Ear aches are a very painful condition, which tends to affect mostly children. However, adults can be affected by ear aches as well, which can disrupt their routines and be quite painful. Let's have a look at some of the aspects of ear aches in adults.

Causes of ar aches in adults
There are many causes for ear aches in adults and it may vary from one person to another. However some general causes of ear aches in adults are listed below:

    Infections within the body: If you have a throat infection or cold, it could trigger an ear ache as a side effect. Treating the underlying problems will, thus reduce the ear ache or it will go on its own when the symptoms of the cold subside. 
    Ear canal injury: Adults are most often guilty of putting in sharp objects to clean their ear canal, which may result in an injury and also lead to infections. These injuries can also be infected and cause fluid discharge and ear aches.
    Blockages caused by the regular use of ear buds: Using ear buds or other sharp objects to clean the ear will only result in pushing the ear wax further into the ear. This will result in blockages of the ear canal and cause ear aches.
    Dental problems: Certain dental problems, such as wisdom tooth growth can result in problems. Even gum disorders have been known to create ear aches in adults.
    Jaw pain and facial pain: Jaw pain and even facial nerve pain has been known to affect ears and cause aches as well.

Symptoms that may accompany ear aches
Depending on what the causes of the ear aches are, the symptoms may vary. Still, let's have a look at some of the known common symptoms of ear aches in adults:

    Irritability and lack of focus: Ear aches may initially manifest as a headache and make the person irritable.
    Poor sleep: Fluids may build up within the body and thus cause issues while sleeping as the fluids may shift from one area to another.
    Ear drainage: If in case fluids build up, they may drain from your ear, which could vary anywhere within yellow to dark brown colour. This may even indicate that your eardrum is ruptured.
    Hearing problems: Fluid buildup or other underlying causes may also cause hearing difficulties.
    Fever: Sometimes, fever may run as high as 104 degree C due the very infections, which may be causing the ear ache.

Whatever may be the cause, if you have ear aches for sustained periods without underlying reasons, you should visit your doctor immediately to get it checked out, so that appropriate treatment can start quickly.


Ear Ache in Adults

Nosebleeds can be frightening and dramatic. Luckily, most cases of nosebleeds can be dealt with fair ease. Nosebleeds can be classified into two types depending upon the origin of the nose bleed, namely anterior and posterior.

Anterior bleed is the most common, and the bleeding is from a blood vessel which is present in the front part of the nose. These bleeds can be easily controlled by simple measures taken by doctors or at home.
Posterior nose bleeds are usually indicative of something more complicated and occur mostly in adults or elderly. The bleed can be caused by a rupture in arteries in the posterior part of the nose. These nosebleeds can get severe and may require admission to a hospital for treatment and management. They are the most common in kids in the range of 2 to 10 years and adults older than 50 years.
What can cause nosebleeds?

The most common cause of a nosebleed is probably trauma or an injury to the nose. External trauma includes a sharp blow to the nose, whereas internal injury comprises of injury from picking your nose continuously or irritation from cold.
Less frequently, an underlying condition can also result in nosebleeds. These conditions include diseases that make clotting difficult. The inability of blood to properly coagulate and clot can be contributed by blood-thinning agents like aspirin and warfarin. 
Disease in the liver can also cause problems in the clotting of blood. Rarely, cancer in the nose or abnormal blood vessels present in the nose can contribute to bleeding. Another cause of nosebleeds can be high blood pressure, but it is rarely the only reason.
What are the symptoms of nosebleeds?

Nosebleeds usually occur from one nostril. Sometimes, if the bleeding is excessive, the nostril can get filled with blood and it can cross the nasopharynx and overflow into the other nostril and result in bleeding from both nostrils. The blood can also go into the throat and one may spit out blood from the mouth or vomit out blood (hematemesis).
Excessive blood loss can cause dizziness, confusion, lightheadedness, and can also cause fainting. Excessive blood loss from nosebleeds is not very common.
Although, nosebleeds are rarely a complication, it is advised to consult a doctor if the occurrences are too frequent.

Nose Bleeding - Things That Can Cause It!

Dizziness, vertigo and balance issues are common symptoms and most of us may have experienced momentary symptoms. It is a sensation of feeling a movement even after the movement has stopped. For example the sensation we feel when we get off a merry-go-round or feeling butterflies in the stomach when we are on a roller coaster ride. Imagine if these symptoms are constant and start affecting our day to day activities. Even a simple task of walking can be bothersome as we may feel like our body is drifted and we cannot balance properly. We may feel a severe spinning sensation when we change position from lying down to sitting or rolling over in bed. It can also cause fear, anxiety and make us limit our movements and activities. These may cause more complications such as neck pain, headaches, body pains and depression. It is therefore very important to find out the root cause of vertigo and treat it immediately.

Dizziness is a sensation of light-headedness or unsteadiness. It can be caused heart disease, brain related causes like stroke, prolong illness, psychological issues, side effect of certain medications, blood pressure fluctuations and many other conditions. Neck stiffness, pain and weakness can also cause dizziness called Cervicogenic dizziness or Cervical Vertigo.
Vertigo is a spinning sensation or a feeling of motion when we are not moving. Its a common symptom in inner ear disorders. Some of the conditions that cause vertigo are: BPPV or Positional Vertigo, Meniere's, Labrynthitis, Vestibular Migraines, Vestibular neuritis, mal de barquement syndrome, perilymph fistula, toxicity of ears due to certain antibiotics, acoustic neuroma etc.
Balance problems or Disequilibrium means unsteadiness, imbalance or loss of equilibrium. It can occur as a primary symptom or with vertigo and dizziness.
You need to consult a Vestibular Therapist or Vertigo specialist who can diagnose your problem correctly. If you have Positional Vertigo known as BPPV then specific tests and manevers can help cure it completely. If there is inner ear disease such as Menieres disease, ear infections, labrynthitis or vestibular neuritis then proper medications prescribed by ENT specilialist and Vestibular Therapy can help you get rid of vertigo. In case the symptoms are related to Central nervous system (Brain) then promt treatment from Neurologist and Vestibular Therapist can help decrease vertigo and improve daily activities. If the symptoms are related to the neck called Cervical Vertigo or Cervicogenic Dizzienss then proper treatment of neck by a Vestibular Physiotherapist can help. Also making sure the posture is good when working on computer/laptops for prolong periods can prevent strain and reduce dizziness related to neck and back muscle tightness.

Vertigo & Dizziness - How You Can Get Rid Of It With Physiotherapy?

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