How to Dry the Ears if Water Gets In

A common question we get asked is what is the best way to dry out the ear if any water gets in? Method #1: I typically suggest using a pain old hairdryer to dry out any water that may be in the ears.  However, there are also commercial ear dryers for purchase including a manual air pump for the ear canal called Dryears . Also available is an electric ear dryer called EarDryer which also works quite well. Method #2: Another common remedy is to put a few drops of rubbing alcohol (isopr…

1/31/2016 0

Continue Reading

What is the BEST Way to Disinfect a Toothbrush?

In my previous blog article , I discussed the debate over whether a toothbrush becomes "contaminated" leading to the practice of throwing them out after a strep throat infection. Although the answer is still ambiguous whether it helps or not, the fact that even NEW toothbrushes contain harmful bacteria brings even more confusion on what to do. Going on the assumption that bacteria on a toothbrush is harmful and if a new or old toothbrush contain such bacteria, perhaps the best …

5/05/2013 0

Continue Reading

Chronic Cough Due to Statins

Statin drugs (simvastatin for example) are commonly used to treat high cholesterol and have many known side effects... but here's another. Statins are now believed to potentially cause a chronic dry cough according to a recent report ! This chronic cough side effect is common in other types of medications such as ACE-Inhibitors (lisinopril) and angiotensin receptor blockers (losartan) to treat high blood pressure. Statins were not previously known to cause a chronic dry cough. Ref…

7/30/2012 1

Continue Reading

FDA Approves New "Dry" Steroid Nasal Spray

On March 26, 2012, the FDA approved of a new type of steroid nasal spray  in the treatment of nasal allergies that puffs powder into the nose rather than a liquid. Liquid formulations such as nasonex, flonase, veramyst, nasacort, and rhinocort has been until now the only delivery medium of administration. This new spray made by Teva Pharmaceuticals is called QNASL which puffs a steroid beclomethasone dipropionate. For those who know pharmaceuticals, it is the same active ingredient as (l…

3/27/2012 0

Continue Reading

Shape of Human Nose Influenced by Climate

The basic function of the human nose is to warm and humidify the air before it reaches the lungs. Because of the wide variation of human habitats from the polar cold and dry air to the equatorial hot and humid weather, one would expect the nose to accommodate to these climate extremes accordingly thru evolutionary pressures. In essence, logically one would expect the nose to change shape to enhance time that air is in contact with the warm and moist nasal interior in cold and dry climates c…

8/21/2011 1

Continue Reading

Treatment of Chronic Draining Ear Infections Using Antibiotic Powder

Rarely, some unfortunate souls have chronic draining ear infections that do not respond well to oral antibiotics nor antibiotic ear drops. What many people and even physicians are unaware of is that there are alternative ways of addressing the chronic draining ear including use of antibiotics in powder form. The method I like best is by using the Sheehy-House Powder Insufflator Bulb . The pharmacy will make up gelcaps containing antibiotics (anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal) and even s…

10/01/2009 6

Continue Reading