Runny noses and achy ears are oh-so-common at this time of year. But it’s not just the cold weather than causes your ears to hurt — sometimes a build up of ear wax can be the cause of ear pain.
Ear wax, known in the medical world as cerumen, is a collection of secretions, skin, and hair that collects in the outer portion of the ear canal. While it may seem kind of gross, it protects, lubricates, and has antimicrobial properties, Dr. Safeena Kherani, otolaryngologist and associate professor at the University of Ottawa tells the Huffington Post Canada.
Ear wax is completely normal and natural, and it’s even self-cleaning. But when your ears feel blocked up with goo, it can be hard to resist reaching for a cotton swab — even if doctors really recommend against it.
“Anything smaller [than your thumb] can inadvertently push the wax deeper, cause an abrasion leading to swimmer’s ear, or even — drum-roll please — piercing your ear drum,” says Kherani.
More at the source: www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/01/18/what-is-ear-wax
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