DEAR DOCTOR K: My husband has a deviated septum. The condition runs in his family, and both his mother and uncle had unsuccessful surgeries to correct theirs. As a result, he refuses to consider surgery. What can be done?
DEAR READER: In people with a deviated septum, one nasal passage inside the nose is wider than normal and one is narrower. This alters the pattern of airflow in the nose and sometimes blocks airflow on the narrowed side.
DEAR DOCTOR K: Swimming is my favorite form of exercise, and I do it several times a week. Lately I’ve been plagued by swimmer’s ear. Can you tell me how to prevent it so I don’t have to give up swimming?
DEAR READER: Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal that is usually caused by bacteria. The official name of the infection is “otitis externa,” but it’s usually called swimmer’s ear because it so often occurs in swimmers.
DEAR DOCTOR K: Every winter I come down with sinusitis. Is there anything I can do to prevent it?
DEAR READER: A lot of people suffer from periodic sinus infections (sinusitis). I’m one of them. The symptoms are aggravating: headache, pain or pressure in the face and head, where the sinuses are, and thick mucus clogging the nose. The good news is there are many things you can do to reduce your risk of sinusitis.
DEAR DOCTOR K: My ears have been ringing for the past seven months or so. When I was younger, this would happen to me for short periods, usually after a loud concert. But this is the first time it’s gone on for so long. What can I do about it?
DEAR READER: It sounds to me like you’ve got a condition called tinnitus. Tinnitus is sound you hear in your head with no external source. The good news is that you’re not crazy. (Now if you told me that you kept hearing people talking to you, people who weren’t there, I’d be more concerned!)
DEAR DOCTOR K: I get frequent nosebleeds throughout the year. What should I do when I get one? Also, are nosebleeds dangerous?
DEAR READER: Nosebleeds can be frightening, but they are actually very common. They are rarely serious or life-threatening, and usually can be stopped with some local pressure and a little patience.
DEAR DOCTOR K: My left ear often gets plugged up. I cough, clear my throat, close my nostrils and blow. Nothing helps. I don’t like to bother my doctor with what seems like a silly problem, but it’s really annoying.
DEAR READER: I tell my patients that any problem, no matter how small, is worth a call to my office if it affects their quality of life. So I encourage you to give your doctor a call.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I’ve always used a cotton-tipped swab to clean earwax out of my ears. My husband says this is dangerous. I think it would be more harmful to leave the wax in my ears. Who’s right?
DEAR READER: Is cleaning out earwax necessary? No, for most people it’s not.
Dr. Anthony Komaroff is a practicing physician, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Editor in Chief of Harvard Health Publications. Learn more »
Harvard Health Publications is the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, providing the general public with authoritative, trustworthy, and accessible health information. Learn more »
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