Ever itch your ear only to find a sticky, yellow glob at the end of your finger? Not a pretty sight — but hey, it happens.

Earwax is a completely normal part of your body. It’s a mixture of dead skin cells from your ear canal and secretions from your ear’s sweat glands and sebaceous (or lubricating) glands, Ksenia Aaron, MD, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, tells LIVESTRONG.com

And it’s there for a reason: Earwax defends against invaders that enter your body through your ear. “There’s a slightly acidic property to it, so it’s actually protective against bacteria and other microbes that might get into your ear canal,” Dr. Aaron says.

Earwax is also hydrophobic, which means it repels unwelcome water in your ear canal to prevent issues like infection, itching and muffled hearing, according to the Mayo Clinic.

That said, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, says Zan Mra, MD, an ENT specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Earwax buildup can cause earaches and discomfort, trouble hearing, dizziness and even a cough, according to the Mayo Clinic.

That’s why your body has its own mechanism to get rid of it: When you chew or speak, your jaw moves and helps ease earwax out, Dr. Mra says.

But if you notice you suddenly have much more earwax than usual, tackling the source of the overload can help prevent further buildup. To help, here are six reasons why you may have so much earwax:

1. Ear Infection

Your earwax problem may not be wax at all — it might actually be an ear infection, Yin Ren, MD, PhD, an ENT specialist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

It can be easy to confuse the two because they can both cause difficulty hearing and the sensation of something stuck in your ear, Dr. Ren says.

How do you tell the difference? Well, “earwax is almost always painless, while an ear infection hurts and produces foul-smelling drainage,” he says. Infections also tend to come on suddenly due to bacteria or a virus.

​Fix it:​ See your doctor — either your primary care provider or an ENT — to get your ears checked out. Dr. Ren says infections are typically easy to diagnose and treat with oral or ear drop antibiotics.

2. Irritation From Ear Buds or Hearing Aids

If you love to use your ear buds while you run or talk on the phone, they may be contributing to your excessive earwax. “[Wearing ear buds] causes a breakdown of skin cells in the ear, which can lead to a buildup of earwax,” Dr. Ren says.

They can also push wax back into your ear canal, leading to blockages and hearing problems, Dr. Ren says.

Wearing ear buds often or for long periods of time can add to the problem. “If you keep ear buds in your ears for hours, they block earwax from naturally draining,” Dr. Mra says.

Even worse, that extra earwax can trap dirt and bacteria on your ear buds in your ear, which can sometimes lead to infection.

Hearing aids can present many of the same problems. “When the mold is not well-fitted, it moves around in the ear, causing irritation,” Dr. Ren says.

​Fix it:​ The best solution is to use over-ear headphones instead of in-ear ones, Dr. Mra says. If you can’t bear to part with your buds, he recommends limiting use to only an hour or two a day. He also suggests wiping down ear buds or hearing aids with peroxide before and after each use.

If you still notice buildup despite these precautions, an over-the-counter earwax removal drop like Debrox ($5.60 from Amazon.com) can help soften and loosen earwax so it drains more easily, Dr. Mra says.

If you wear hearing aids, see your audiologist to get the fit checked.

3. Q-Tips

Though Q-tips may be your preferred method of ear cleaning, they’re actually another cause of excessive earwax. “They irritate your ear canal, which in turn stimulates the glands in your ears to produce more secretions,” Dr. Aaron says.

Q-tips can also push earwax deeper into your ear canal. This can make it harder to hear and thus create the illusion of too much earwax, she says.

​Fix it:​ Toss the Q-tips.

If they have become part of your hygiene routine, Dr. Aaron recommends placing a few drops of mineral or baby oil in your ear before bed instead. (You can use a cotton ball to prevent it from seeping onto your pillow as your sleep.) “The oil will help soften any earwax that is dry and contributing to buildup,” she says.

4. Ear Hair

Ear hair may be another reason why you have so much earwax because it can get in the way of drainage. “Men are more prone to earwax because they often have hair in their ears, which blocks its natural excretion,” Dr. Aaron says.

​Fix it:​ “Earwax is totally normal, so if it doesn’t bother [you], then there’s no need to do anything,” she says.

But if it does, you can always remove ear hair with an over-the-counter trimmer, like Panasonic’s Men’s Ear and Nose Hair Trimmer ($19.99 from Amazon.com). Just never wax or shave ear hair, Dr. Aaron cautions, as you don’t want to burn or nick the sensitive ear canal.

5. Chlorinated Water Buildup

Remember how earwax repels water? That only works so well.

“Swimming in a chlorinated pool can irritate your ear canal, which stimulates the production of more earwax to protect it,” Dr. Aaron says.

​Fix it:​ You may be tempted to pop in ear plugs when you hit the pool, but don’t: Those are also irritants, Dr. Aaron says.

Instead, she recommends drying your ears after swimming. Set your hair dryer to low and hold it about six inches from your ears for a few minutes to reduce moisture from chlorinated water, she says.

6. Residue From Bathing Products

If you notice your ear canal is itchy and irritated in addition to waxy, then your shampoo or soap may be the culprit, especially if you’ve switched it recently, Dr. Ren says.

​Fix it:​ Switch back to your original bathing products (provided they weren’t irritating) or try a mild shampoo with no added fragrance, like Neutrogena Gentle & Soft Healthy Scalp Shampoo ( $11.99 from Amazon.com). You should also take extra care to rinse your ears when you bathe so there’s no soapy residue, he says.

Photo credit: Charday Penn/E+/GettyImages

Article written by Hallie Levine for Livestrong.com

Source: 6 Reasons You Suddenly Have More Earwax Than Usual | Livestrong.com

Life or Death Diet

Be careful — some of your favorite foods might lead to a life-or-death scenario for your dog. Though your buddy may beg for table scraps, there are certain “human foods” to keep away from a precious pet, no matter the puppy eyes they make at you. If you suspect your dog has eaten one of these items, contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline as soon as possible. 

Xylitol

Because this artificial sweetener typically found in sugar-free gum, breath mints, mouthwash, and toothpaste tastes like sugar, it may be tempting for pets. But Xylitol should be kept away: Even small amounts, such as from two pieces of gum, can cause seizures, liver failure, or even death after the xylitol is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and causes a rapid decrease in blood sugar, VCA Animal Hospitals say. This can happen within 10 minutes to an hour. 

Macadamia Nuts

Watch out when baking with these. This very tasty but fatty nut may cause pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, if even a little bit is eaten by dogs, even within a cookie or bread. Other common symptoms from macadamia nut ingestion include weakness in the back legs, vomiting, and diarrhea, the ASPCA says.

Chocolate

This is another one of those ingredients a dog may ingest when counter surfing. The signs of chocolate poisoning in a dog usually appear within six to 12 hours, and symptoms can be wide ranging: vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, panting or restlessness, excessive urination, racing heart rate, muscle tremors and seizures — and can lead to heart failure if too much is eaten. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which can speed the heart rate and stimulate the nervous system of dogs, according to the Merck/Merial Manual for Veterinary Health. Just how sick a dog gets can depend on the type and amount of chocolate; cocoa powder is considered to be the most toxic form, milk chocolate less so. You can calculate risk based on how much and what was eaten. 

Grapes and Raisins

Even one grape or raisin can be fatal for some dogs by leading to acute kidney failure, the American Kennel Club says. Before panicking, it’s worth noting that dogs are generally more likely to be poisoned by large amounts, and there appears to be a range of sensitivity. Some dogs may be able to eat a few and be fine, according to VCA Hospitals. Though it’s not confirmed, the danger may arise from mycotoxins produced by fungus or molds, tartaric acid, or salicylates found in grapes that lead to decreased blood flow to a dog’s kidneys. Symptoms such as lethargy and lack of appetite appear within 24 hours after ingesting, with symptoms such as urination problems taking another day.

Onion, Leeks, and Chives

While it’s hard to imagine a dog just grabbing an onion to chow down on, a pup could easily sneak a meal seasoned with onion, leeks, or chives, such as a nice piece of chicken, and a 45-pound dog can eat just the equivalent of one regular-size onion to suffer serious side effects. Onions and their cousins are dangerous because they can make a dog’s red blood cells fragile and cause them to burst, VCA Hospitals say. Certain breeds — such as dogs of Japanese descent including Akitas or Shiba Inus — may have a higher risk for toxicity.

Garlic

Like onions, garlic can cause harm to a dog’s blood cells. You’ll want to be especially careful of concentrated dried and powdered forms, which could cause illness faster. For example, it takes 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kilogram of a dog’s body weight to make them ill, and one clove of garlic may weigh somewhere around 3 to 7 grams — but 1 teaspoon of garlic equals about eight cloves of garlic.

Alcohol

Alcohol’s effects on a dog are based on the pet’s size and the alcohol concentration ingested. For example, light beer is lowest in alcohol, while gin — or even the alcohol level in hand sanitizer — is going to be the highest and most dangerous. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in dogs would be similar to humans and include a lack of coordination, vomiting, weakness, drooling, and finally decreased breathing.

Coffee

We may need it simply to wake ourselves up, but caffeine raises blood pressure in dogs and can cause cardiac arrhythmias. Pets may also lose muscle control and have tremors or seizures as a result of taking in caffeine, as well as suffer damage to the liver, heart, kidneys, lungs, and central nervous system. Don’t panic, though; one to two laps of coffee, tea, or soda is unlikely to cause problems for most pets; just be sure to keep coffee grounds, tea bags, and the like tucked away safely.

Raw Yeast Dough

Baked bread is safe for dogs to eat, though it isn’t the most healthy treat to share with your pet. Letting a pet consume raw dough is downright dangerous, though. Unbaked bread dough can expand in the warm and moist environment of a dog’s gut, leading to bloat or a twisted stomach — a very dangerous and even potentially deadly condition for dogs. Bloat symptoms include a clearly uncomfortable animal who may be retching with nothing coming up, distended stomach, an elevated heart rate, pacing, and panting.

Raw Meat

Raw food diets have become popular for pets, with many social media groups devoted to the topic. But before you jump on the bandwagon, be aware that this may not be a very safe trend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Center for Veterinary Medicine, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration all say raw dog foods can be dangerous to pets and their owners. One study found that nearly one-fourth of commercially available raw dog foods tested positive for salmonella and listeria. These bacteria can make humans and canines extremely ill. But dogs can actually carry salmonella in their intestines without showing signs of illness, exposing owners unknowingly.

Indigestible Parts of Foods

Dogs may love a taste of a nice meaty bone or a bite of a watermelon, but problems arise when these types of treats are given to a pet without monitoring. Dogs can’t be counted on to stop eating when they reach the part of a food that isn’t digestible, which includes bones and watermelon rinds but also corn cobs and peach and avocado pits. (In very small amounts, avocado pulp itself may irritate a dog’s stomach, though is unlikely to cause death.) These items can cause an obstruction in the stomach, which may lead to surgery or worse.

Sego Palm

For humans, this plant is decorative and pretty; for a dog it can be deadly. Eating even a small amount of the leaves and especially the seeds from this plant can cause severe gastrointestinal problems, affect the nervous system, and cause liver failure. Symptoms are likely to show up within 15 minutes of ingesting the plant, but may also take hours.

Article written by Jennifer Magid for cheapism©

Source: Foods that are dangerous or deadly for dogs (msn.com)

Safer Activities for You and Your Family

• If you are fully vaccinated, you can participate in many of the activities that you did before the pandemic.
• To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
• Wearing a mask is most important if you have a weakened immune system or if, because of your age or an underlying medical condition, you are at increased risk for severe disease, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated. If this applies to you or your household, you might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission in your area.
• You should continue to wear a mask where required by laws, rules, regulations, or local guidance.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can do things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.

These recommendations can help you make decisions about daily activities after you are fully vaccinated. They are not intended for healthcare settings.

Have You Been Fully Vaccinated?

In general, people are considered fully vaccinated: ^±

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.

If you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may NOT be protected even if you are fully vaccinated. You should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people until advised otherwise by your healthcare provider.

What You Can Do

If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
• To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
• You might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission if you have a weakened immune system or if, because of your age or an underlying medical condition, you are at increased risk for severe disease, or if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.
• If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
• You need to pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before traveling outside the United States.
  • You do NOT need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.
  • You still need to show a negative test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding an international flight to the United States.
  • You should still get tested 3-5 days after international travel.
  • You do NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.
• If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you should get tested 3-5 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. You should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative. You should isolate for 10 days if your test result is positive.

What You Should Keep Doing

For now, if you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace and local businesses.
• If you travel, you should still take steps to protect yourself and others.
• Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).
• Fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in the United States are still required to get tested 3 days before travel by air into the United States (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and should still get tested 3-5 days after their trip.
• You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others. If your test is positive, isolate at home for 10 days.
• People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken the immune system, should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.

What We Know

• COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing COVID-19, including severe illness and death.
• COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe disease and death from variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 currently circulating in the United States, including the Delta variant.
• Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. When these infections occur among vaccinated people, they tend to be mild.
• If you are fully vaccinated and become infected with the Delta variant, you can spread the virus to others.
• People with weakened immune systems, including people who take immunosuppressive medications, may not be protected even if fully vaccinated.

What We’re Still Learning

• How long COVID-19 vaccines can protect people.

Want to learn more about these recommendations? Read our expanded Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.

± This guidance applies to COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines.  This guidance can also be applied to COVID-19 vaccines that have been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (e.g. AstraZeneca/Oxford).

Source: When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated – How to Protect Yourself and Others