Ear Wax: Friend or Foe?
posted by The Live Better Team | May 27, 2016
For those who suffer from it, hearing loss is no laughing matter. It affects around 48 million Americans – one out of every five – to some degree, the Hearing Loss Association of America reports. You probably associate hearing loss with aging. However, it could be due to something the body produces naturally: ear wax.
Wax has several roles in ear health:
Coating the ear canal to moisten it
Fighting infection
Preventing dirt, dust, and additional debris from going too deep inside the ear
Pain
Sensation of fullness
A plugged feeling
Hearing loss
Ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
Itching
Infection
Discharge from your ear
Ear infection
Odor from your ear
Coughing
When you attempt to clean ear wax with probes like cotton swabs, twisted napkin corners, or hairpins, you’ll probably just push the wax in even deeper. This might cause a blockage against your eardrum.
Mineral oil
Baby Oil
Glycerin
A commercial irrigation kit
• Diabetes
Perforated eardrum
Weakened immune system
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. You should always consult your doctor before making decisions about your health.