Cotton swabs commonly known as Qtips are very practical for applying makeup and craft projects, but they should never be used to clean the ear canal. The diameter of each cotton swab is the same as the ear canal. While you may think you are “scraping” the earwax out with the cotton, the earwax you see on the swab is likely only on the surface. You are likely pushing a larger amount of wax deeper in the canal. Worse yet, a piece of the cotton swab can become lodged in the canal, which may require a trip to your doctor for removal.  In addition, the skin in the ear is very delicate and sensitive. Any small abrasion caused by the cotton swab can easily get infected and cause severe pain.

If you suffer from excessive ear wax that is bothersome, you may need to purchase an ear cleaning solution and a bulb syringe to flush the ear with warm water afterward.  Some people use cotton swabs to dry their ears after showering or swimming. A better idea would be to use your hair dryer on a low heat setting aimed at your ear.

Everyone has watched TV shows like “The Biggest Loser” and been amazed at how much weight can be lost.  In all honesty, those people are losing weight because they are exercising and eating a proper diet everyday for weeks.  They are not working their usual jobs like the rest of us, and have time to be coached by nutritionists and personal trainers.  For the rest of us who have to work for a living, their regimen is not feasible.  However, we can all learn to adopt a healthier lifestyle, which includes proper diet and exercise.

In terms of losing weight, the best way is to prevent the calories from entering your body.  For example, to burn off a single can of soda (140 cal), you would have to walk briskly for 20 minutes!   Don’t be fooled by orange juice, thinking it is any better.  Ounce per ounce there are just as many calories in most fruit juices as soda and your body treats them in pretty much the same way.  While you should still do exercise, wouldn’t it be better to drink a glass of unsweetened iced tea with lemon (or maybe with an artificial sweetener) and not have to think about fitting in a long walk in your busy day to compensate for the extra calorie load?

I have been seeing friends post Facebook pictures of food they’ve eaten with the caption “I need to go to the gym tomorrow and burn this off!”  But can you really burn it all off?  A famous bakery in NYC known for its cupcakes states that just one cupcake is 202 calories.  That would be 20 solid minutes of running on the treadmill!  You can guess how long you would have to run to burn off a burger with 500 calories!

Recently, I have had many patients inquiring about their blood type.  In my opinion, there is little utility in this as if you should ever need a blood transfusion, your blood will be matched to the donor’s blood in a test that takes a few minutes.  Also, most insurance companies will not pay for blood typing as a routine blood test with an annual physical so you would likely get a bill for the test.  If you still want to know your blood type, you can get it for free by donating blood, as they will mail you a card with your blood type.

A more important test to have done is your hemoglobin each year.  This is a method to look for anemia, which means too few red blood cells, or polycythemia vera, which means too many red blood cells.  Women who menstruate,vegetarians, and anyone with unexplained fatigue should certainly have their hemoglobin checked.  Annual bloodwork typically will include a CBC (complete blood count) which includes a hemoglobin level.

Summer is a great time to go out and enjoy beaches, parks, and go hiking.  Be sure to have sunscreen with SPF (Sun Protection Factor)>15 at all times.  Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and stay out of the midday sun.  On days when there are no clouds, you may even want to use an umbrella to provide shade.  You should always wear a moisturizer for the face that has SPF, as this will prevent premature wrinkles.  Even on cloudy days there is a potential for absorbing UVA/UVB rays.  Don’t forget to put lip balm with SPF>15 as your lips are very sensitive to the sun.  I personally buy many tubes of lip balm with SPF30 and put them in beach bags, back packs, and in jacket pockets so I’m never without them.

Many people are concerned about low vitamin D.  In order to absorb vitamin D, you do need sunshine, but 10 minutes of sun on the face and the arms is sufficient.  I recommend putting on sunscreen after going out in the sun.

Poison Ivy

With the summer approaching, I am seeing more cases of rashes from poison ivy exposure.  Remember that whenever you are gardening or walking in the woods, be sure to cover up with long sleeves and pants.  If you have been exposed, immediately remove the article of clothing and wash the area with soap and water.  Be sure to gently wash the area, as scrubbing can cause irritation to the skin.  Use an old toothbrush to remove the oils under the fingernails.    Any gardening tools or gloves used should also be cleaned with soapy water.

The rash from poison ivy can usually be treated with topical calamine, oral benadryl,  or bathing in oatmeal (yes, the same oatmeal you eat for breakfast).  However, sometimes the rash can be quite severe.  In this situation, it is best to see your family physician who can provide stronger medications.