Plucking nose hair, picking nose, rinsing nose too much, or making your own salt water to gargle can damage these organs.
MSc. Dr. Nguyen Thi Huong, ENT Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that proper ear, nose and throat hygiene helps kill pathogens, limiting the possibility of infection with respiratory diseases, ear, nose and throat diseases and many other diseases. Improper hygiene can damage the ear, nose and throat organs. Some cases leave sequelae such as deafness due to perforated eardrums.
Below are bad habits for the ear, nose and throat that should be avoided.
Nose Hair Removal : Improper trimming of nose hair can damage the nose. Hair removal creams can burn the delicate skin and mucous membranes inside the nostrils. The toxic chemical fumes of these creams can also cause nasal allergies when inhaled.
Methods such as waxing or tweezing nose hairs pose the risk of ingrown hairs, infection, and damage to the sensitive tissues inside the nostrils. Some people often use sharp scissors to trim nose hairs, accidentally puncturing the thin mucous membrane inside the nose, causing bleeding and infection.
Repeated nasal irrigation : This habit causes loss of natural moisture, dryness, irritation, and pain in the nose. Prolonged use of corticosteroid nasal sprays can also lead to drug resistance, drug dependence, and side effects such as nosebleeds.
Incorrect nasal irrigation can cause dry, irritated, and bleeding nose. Photo: Freepik
Picking your nose frequently : Using your fingers to pick your nose can scratch the nasal mucosa and cause bleeding. Picking your nose with unsterilized fingers creates an opportunity for bacteria and germs to enter the nose, increasing the risk of infectious diseases such as flu, Covid-19...
Repeated ear cleaning : Earwax contains lysosomes, glycoproteins, immunoglobulins, lipids and trace elements, which have antibacterial effects. Earwax plays an important role in protecting the ear. This naturally occurring mucus has a high pH, which is unfavorable for the growth of organisms, helping to reduce the risk of infection in the ear canal.
Frequently cleaning your ears and using cotton swabs or cleaning them incorrectly increases the risk of infection, ear irritation, and impaired ear canal function. Earwax removal tools made of metal or hard materials can scratch the ear and damage the skin of the ear. Sharing unsterilized earwax removal tools can easily spread pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
Overuse of throat antiseptic solutions : Many people think that solutions containing alcohol or acid help kill bacteria. However, the throat is at risk of damage due to mucosal irritation if using throat antiseptic solutions with inappropriate concentrations. Everyone should consult a doctor before using mouthwash to get advice on the type suitable for their age and physical condition.
Making your own salt water to gargle: It is difficult to ensure the sodium concentration according to the standard when making your own salt water. Too concentrated salt can easily irritate the oral and throat mucosa, leading to damage. On the contrary, it will not be enough to disinfect.
Dr. Huong noted that everyone needs to clean their ears, nose and throat properly according to the instructions of experts to promote effectiveness and avoid causing damage. You should have other parallel measures to protect your ears, nose and throat such as keeping warm, limiting drinking ice, drinking alcohol, eating spicy foods, smoking, avoiding exposure to dust, toxic chemicals, and noise. Getting vaccinated against respiratory diseases (flu, pneumococcus...) and having regular health check-ups contribute to protecting your ears, nose and throat.
Nguyen Phuong
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