Some people's ears produce wax like busy little bees. This can be a problem even though earwax appears to serve an important purpose.
It protects and cleans the ear. It traps dirt and other matter, and it keeps insects out. Doctors think earwax might also help protect against infections. And the waxy oil keeps ears from getting too dry.
So earwax is good. It even has a medical name: cerumen. And there are two kinds. Most people of European or African ancestry have the "wet" kind: thick and sticky. East Asians commonly have "dry" earwax.
But you can have too much of a good thing.
The glands in the ear canal that produce the wax make too much in some people. Earwax is normally expelled; it falls out of the ear or gets washed away. But extra wax can harden and form a blockage that interferes with soundwaves and reduces hearing.
People can also cause a blockage when they try to clean out their ears, but only push the wax deeper inside. Earwax removal is sometimes necessary. But you have to use a safe method or you could do a lot of damage.
Experts at the National Institutes of Health, NIH, suggest some ways to treat excessive earwax yourself. The wax can be softened with mineral oil, glycerin or ear drops. Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide may also help.
Another way to remove wax is known as irrigation. With the head upright, take hold of the outer part of the ear. Gently pull upward to straighten the ear canal. Use a syringe device to gently direct water against the wall of the ear canal. Then turn the head to the side to let the water out.
The experts at NIH say you may have to repeat this process a few times. Use water that is body temperature. If the water is cooler or warmer, it could make you feel dizzy. Never try irrigation if the eardrum is broken. It could lead to infection and other problems.
After the earwax is gone, gently dry the ear. But if irrigation fails, the best thing to do is to go to a health care provider for professional assistance.
You should never put a cotton swab or other object into the ear canal. But you can use a swab or cloth to clean the outer part of the ear. Experts agree with the old saying that you should never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.
外研版英语九上《Unit 2 Books could be produced more quickly and cheaply》word同步测试
外研版英语九上Module 5《Unit 3 Language in use》word同步测试
仁爱版英语九下《Topic 1 I would rather watch TV plays than sports shows》word同步测试
外研新标准版九年级上册期末测试题
外研版英语九上Module 1《Unit 3 Language in use》word同步测试
外研版英语九下Module 3《Unit 3 Language in use》word同步测试
外研版英语九下《Unit 2 I wish you success for the future》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Unit 2 Learn English in Los Angeles》word同步测试
外研版英语九下《Unit 2 We all own English》word同步测试
外研版英语九上Module 7《Unit 3 Language in use》word同步测试
外研版英语九下Module 2《Unit 3 Language in use》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Unit 2 Remember three words Reduce, reuse and recycle》word同步测试
外研版英语九上Module 4《Unit 3 Language in use》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Module 5 Museums》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Module 10 Fitness》word同步测试
外研版英语九上Module 2《Unit 3 Language in use》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Module 4 Great inventions》word同步测试
外研版英语九下Module 1《Unit 3 Language in use》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Unit 2 Liu Xiang was trained for gold》word同步测试
外研版英语九下《Unit 2 You should always go with someone》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Module 3 Sporting life》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Module 6 Save our world》word同步测试
外研版英语九下Module 5《Unit 3 Language in use》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Unit 2 The camel that I rode had a bad temper》word同步测试
仁爱版英语九下《Topic 1 I would rather watch TV plays than sports shows》word同步测试(一)
外研版英语九上《Module 11 Population》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Unit 2 It was a quiet country village》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Module 7 Australia》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Unit 2 I was on the edge of the Grand Canyon》word同步测试
外研版英语九上《Unit 1 Paper and printing have been used for ages》word同步测试