Monthly Archives: January 2021

Tinnitus

7 Reasons Why Your Ear Might Be Aching

You might think that earaches usually just happen to your young ones but the fact is, it can happen to you too. An earache may occur in both ears at once, but most of the time, the pain will only be in one ear.

A mild earache can happen if you are suffering from colds. But there are also times when the cause of pain in your ear is because of an ongoing infection. Since there may be a lot of reasons why you might be suffering pain in your ear, it is best to consult a physician to find out why. If you want a fast and convenient diagnosis, you can find online doctors who are licensed, board-certified, and capable to deliver your primary care needs.

Getting help from a medical expert is the best thing you can do if you have an ongoing earache, especially if the pain is severe. But also knowing about what ails you will help you understand what you are experiencing and will help you avoid needless panic.

Here are some reasons why you might be having an earache right now:

  1. Middle Ear Infection

Otitis media is the term used to refer to the infection in the middle ear. The middle ear is the part after your eardrum. The pain may be caused by a build-up of fluids behind the eardrum which in turn inflames it. Respiratory tract infections and viruses from colds and flu can cause middle ear infections through the Eustachian tubes. The Eustachian tube is the part that connects the eardrum through the back of the nose and throat. Once an infection starts, the tubes start to inflame. If the fluids can’t be drained through the Eustachian tubes, this causes build-up behind the eardrums and consequently, pain in your middle ear.

2. Outer Ear Infection

An outer ear infection is also commonly known as swimmer’s ear.  Another medical term for this is otitis externa. The reason behind the name is because outer ear infection is caused by water residue in your ear after bathing or swimming. The moisture build-up becomes a conducive environment for bacteria to thrive. Once the outer ear is irritated or wounded, a bacterial infection can start. The infection can also be caused by yeast or fungus. People with psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis are also more prone to this.

3. Ear Congestion

This happens when the Eustachian tube becomes blocked. People with congested ears can usually feel pressure in their ears, muffled hearing, and pain. Influenza, cold, sinusitis, irritants such as smoke and allergens, can also trigger this.

4. Foreign object

Children are usually prone to foreign objects being stuck in the ear. However, adults can also experience this. There are times when insects or objects like pebbles, seeds, or stones accidentally enter your ear. The foreign object may cause bleeding, extreme pain, or worse, loss of hearing. Insects are more dangerous especially if they are still alive when they get stuck inside your ear. If you are not careful, they tend to even enter deep into the ear canal. When this happens, contact a doctor immediately or visit a walk in clinic Guelph for first aid and treatment.

5. Earwax

Earwax is part of your body’s ear protection. The wax usually clears out naturally. However, sometimes, earwax build-up can happen which can cause ear pain. A person suffering from earwax build up can feel difficulty in hearing, earache, dizziness, itchiness, or sounds or tones coming from inside their ears. Using your fingers or cotton buds to get rid of your earwax will usually push it further into your ear canal. Avoid cleaning your ears with your fingers or with cotton buds.

6. Tinnitus

Worldwide, tinnitus affects around 20% of people. You have tinnitus if you are hearing internal sounds in one or both of your ears. It is often associated with hearing loss, ageing, or overexposure to loud sounds. People of any age can get this, but it is often experienced by the elderly. Sometimes, tinnitus comes with an earache, and since it is often a symptom of an underlying condition, going to the doctor for diagnosis is highly recommended.

7. Air pressure

Have you ever experienced earache when travelling on an airplane? Ear congestion while travelling on a plane is very possible. This is because air travel can cause a drastic change in air pressure during landing and take off. This then puts pressure on your eardrum and middle ear. It can easily be relieved if you yawn or chew gum or sweats. Yawning and chewing will readjust the pressure in your ears.

These are just seven reasons why your ear might be aching. If you are feeling pain in one or both of your ears, you must seek a medical professional. If you have a family doctor, consult him or her immediately to find out why you are having an earache. The sooner you get it treated the less likely it’s going to fall into worse conditions. Read more about symptoms of tinnitus.

Cancer

Catch the Early Signs and Risk Factors of Breast Cancer

Knowing your breast health is important for every woman. Although men can also have breast cancer, it is a very rare occurrence. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer for women in Canada. That’s why it is important to personally know how your breasts look and feel like. You should be aware if there are any signs of changes especially when there is a sudden occurrence of lumps upon inspection.

The appearance of a new lump or mass in the breast is one of the most common signs and symptoms of breast cancer. If you felt a painless, hard and irregular shaped mass in your breast, this can most likely be cancer. But breast cancers can also be tender, round, soft and painless. That’s why getting yourself checked when an unusual lump or mass appears upon inspecting your breast is vital for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. You can also include getting yourself a regular screening test for breast cancer.

In 2019, there are an estimated 26,900 Canadian women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. 5,000 of which are estimated to die of it.  Studies show that 1 in every 8 women are expected to develop breast cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 33 who are diagnosed will die of it.

Early Signs of Breast Cancer

The risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer is huge, so taking precautionary measures before even getting one will help you in keeping your breast’s health in check. Here are some of the early signs and symptoms of breast cancer that you should look out for:

  • Sudden swelling of a part of your breast or even all parts of it. Even if no lump is felt in the breast as long as there is swelling, this can be a sign of breast cancer.
  • An occurrence of pain in the breast or the nipple
  • When your nipple becomes retracted or is turning inward.
  • There is a sudden discharge in the nipple even without you having breast milk.
  • Having swollen lymph nodes can be a sign of breast cancer. There are times that the breast cancer can spread to the lymph nodes around the collar bone and under the arm and can lead to a lump or swelling in those areas, even before the tumour in the breast is big enough to be felt and be seen.

Although these symptoms can be due to a lot of other things, sickness or diseases, if you are experiencing any of these, you should get yourself check by a professional health care specialist on cancer and lumps. You can go to a walk-in clinic Thunder Bay to get yourself checked with the right diagnosis of your symptoms. Or better yet, you can consider online doctors if you can’t go to these clinics and hospitals right away. You can look for specialized doctors online with the right professional license and get a consultation for symptoms of breast cancer.

Risk Factors of Breast Cancer

Getting breast cancer may be due to a lot of reasons from genetics, to lifestyle and diet. Here are some of the factors that increase the risk of developing breast cancer:

  1. Having a family member who has been diagnosed with breast cancer can increase your risk of developing one as well. If you have a family history of breast cancer, especially from a close relative like your mother, sister or daughter who have been diagnosed before having their menopause. Another factor is when a mutation on the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes is present.
  2. Women over the age of 50 have an 83% risk factor for developing breast cancer.
  3. Obesity and physical inactivity can cause women who are in their post-menopausal stage to develop breast cancer.
  4. There is higher breast cancer for those who are taking hormone replacement therapy for more than 5 years.
  5. Alcohol use can also trigger cancer cells from developing.
  6. A previous experience of breast disorders with biopsies showing abnormal cells.
  7. No full pregnancies or having to experience a full-term first pregnancy after the age of 30.
  8. Beginning of menstruation at an early age.
  9. Becoming obese. Eating unhealthy foods and going overboard with your weight can increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

Early prevention is always better than cure, especially for any type of cancer.  The early stages of breast cancer are still treatable. Living a healthy lifestyle would decrease the chance of getting these diseases and cancer. Eating with the right amount of nutrition that your body needs, as well as getting a regular check-up with your health physicians, and just being aware of your body can help in determining any sickness and diseases. Early diagnosis of breast cancers is vital for the treatment process and the risks that come with it. If you are starting to notice unusual pain in your chest area especially in your breast, call a doctor right away. Read more about what rocket doctor can do.