Ear, nose, and throat problems affect both children and adults. Knowing how to prevent and treat them can help you stay healthy. See how much you know about the ears, nose, and throat by taking this quiz, based on information from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
1. Cotton swabs are a safe and easy way to remove wax from the inside of your ears.
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Inserting cotton-tipped applicators or other small objects into your ear pushes wax deeper into the ear canal. This causes buildup of wax and affects hearing. Earwax protects the skin of the ear canal. When earwax builds up, you can have partial hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or a feeling that the ear canal is plugged. Your body often clears earwax from the canal, so cleaning isn't needed. Using a cotton swab also can damage the eardrum, causing a hole and hearing loss.
2. Hay fever can be caused by allergies to pollen, dust, ragweed, and animal dander.
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Hay fever is a commonly used term for seasonal allergic rhinitis. This condition causes symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes and throat, and sneezing, but no fever. It is caused by pollen allergens in the air, including those of grasses and hay.
3. A person can be trained not to snore.
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But lifestyle changes, weight loss, and medical treatment can help. Snoring may be caused by the airway becoming blocked by throat muscles that are too relaxed or by the tongue falling backward into the airway. A long uvula, the tissue that dangles at the back of the throat, or a long soft palate can flutter during the deep breathing of sleep. Nasal passages that are obstructed by a cold or allergy can cause snoring. Snoring can disturb sleep patterns and cause health problems. Snoring should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
4. You can toughen up your ears by continued exposure to loud noise.
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Exposure to loud noise is the most common cause of hearing loss. Once your hearing is lost, nothing can bring it back. To prevent hearing loss, use appropriate hearing protectors when working in a noisy environment and when using power tools, noisy yard equipment, or firearms. Also use earplugs when at loud recreational events such as rock concerts, pulling contests, and monster truck shows. Be careful about the volume when using headphones to listen to music.
5. You should try not to speak or sing when your voice is hoarse.
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Most cases of hoarseness resolve themselves simply by resting the voice. If the problem is caused by overuse (yelling or singing), a voice therapist or coach can train you in correct ways to use your voice. If hoarseness lasts longer than 2 weeks, or if you have pain or trouble swallowing, or you cough up blood, see your healthcare provider.
6. Swimmer's ear can develop from swimming in a lake, pond, or swimming pool.
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Lake or pond water contains bacteria and fungi. When this water gets into the ear, those bacteria and fungi also enter.
7. Nosebleeds can be caused by blowing your nose a lot from a cold and allergies, by nose picking, or by getting hit in the nose.
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Nosebleeds are also common in dry climates or in the winter, when the humidity indoors may be low. The low humidity causes the nasal membranes to dry out and crack, causing bleeding. Ask your healthcare provider about saline nose drops or an ointment to moisten tissues in your nose.
A bedside swallow exam is a test to see if you have dysphagia. Dysphagia is trouble swallowing. It can lead to serious problems, such as lung infection.
Direct laryngoscopy is a procedure to look at the vocal cords. A laryngoscope is a rigid, hollow tube with a light attached. Using this tool, your healthcare provider can look behind your tongue and down your throat to your vocal cords. A tissue sample (biopsy) can be taken for study in a lab. Or a growth can be removed.
