Thursday, August 02, 2007

Health Tips for August 2

Health Tip: Research Alternative Therapies Carefully

Alternative therapies, while as a whole becoming ever more popular, pose a varied degree of risk.

Before you try a technique or substance that can do more harm than good, here is a list of questions to research, courtesy of AARP:

* How successful has this treatment been in treating my condition, and how common is this treatment in people with my condition?
* What types of procedures or medications does the treatment involve, are they safe, and are there any side effects?
* How long has this treatment been used?
* Do the facilities and therapists meet regulations and standards, and are they clean and up-to-date?
* What should I expect during and after treatment?

Health Tip: Wax Can Build up in the Ear

Some people's ears produce more wax than is necessary to protect the ear from foreign matter. A blockage caused by excess wax can trigger hearing loss, earache, ringing in the ears, or a sensation of fullness in the ear, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says.

There are several ways to treat a wax blockage in the ear, the NLM advises. A doctor may choose to use mineral oil or baby oil, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The ear can also be irrigated with a syringe full of water at body temperature directed into the ear, then drained.

Once wax has been removed, the ear should be thoroughly dried, such as by a blow dryer used on a low setting, the NLM says.

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