Healthy happy you.
Dear Fit, Whenever I fly I get this horrible pain in my ears, right as we're descending, about 15 minutes before we land. It's excruciating and sometimes I can't hear well a few hours after the flight. What causes this and is there any way to prevent it? I am traveling soon for my Summer vacation and am not looking forward to flying. — Pain in the Ear Great that you're taking a vacation. They Read more
Ear candling – have you heard of it? Offered as a spa treatment or found at health food stores in do-it-yourself kits, this treatment is touted as a method to deep clean your ears. The long, hollow, tapered tubes (the candle) are made of muslin and coated with wax. Basically you stick one end in your ear, and someone lights the other end. As the hollow candle burns, the smoke and heat create a Read more
Last month we went over the signs and symptoms of realizing when a stomachache may require a visit to the doctor, recently I was confronted with a similar issue — an earache. I used to think that ear infections were just a problem for babies and small children, but adults can suffer from them, too. While earaches can be a symptom of a cold, that ache can turn into an infection. Since ear Read more
You slip under the covers, turn off the light, and rest your head on your pillow. Seems simple and perfect, but here are some things you could be doing in bed that harm your health. Grinding your teeth: Formally called sleep bruxism, many people unknowingly clench their jaw or grind their teeth at night, which can lead to tension headaches, earaches, irritated tissue on the inside of your Read more
Cooler temps cramping your running style? Add wind to the mix, and you put yourself at risk for a nice little earache. Keep ears protected from the wind and cold by wearing something breathable that can be pulled down over your ears. Check out these chic solutions to get your ears warmed up during your next run! Read more
Now that the weather is warming up, are you getting back into a sport that wasn't suited for colder days? My Memorial Day weekend activity of choice was biking, and let me tell you, it was good to get my biking muscles in motion again after such a long Winter! But just like any other sport, it's not all sunshine and roses when you go from zero to full steam ahead . . . literally. I hopped on my Read more
In a surprising announcement last week, the Centers for Disease Control announced that ear infection diagnoses had plummeted by almost 30 percent over the past 15 years. Doctors aren't quite sure why the nasty earaches are on the decline, but some are crediting a drop in the number of US smokers, an increase in the number of breastfed children, and an increase in vaccinations for the good news. Read more
DrSugar is in the house! This week she gives us the skinny on OTC pain medications. Dear DrSugar, Do the different types of over-the-counter pain relievers work better for different problems? What should I take for a headache — is aspirin better than ibuprofen? What should I take if I have a fever or the flu? Is there one that's best for dealing with swelling for twists and sprains? What about Read more
The headlines were glaring – almost nine percent of US children are living without health insurance, fearing every cold, cough, or earache they encountered each year. With the House of Representatives’ passage of the Senate’s bill, those 8.7 million tots can rest a bit easier. As the healthcare reform debate dies down, the country’s youngest citizens are one of the biggest beneficiaries Read more
I have a slew of home remedies tucked in my noggin that I pull out when needed. Tummy ache? I whip up some fresh ginger tea (it's also good for colds). Honey soothes my sore throat, and when I've had a tough workout and am left with sore muscles, an apple cider vinegar wrap does the trick. Those home remedies are safe and actually work, but some cures and treatments you may have heard about can Read more
