Diwali is about light, sweets and family, but the days around it bring a sharp rise in ear, nose and throat complaints. Firecrackers produce sudden loud sound and a thick cloud of smoke, and both can affect your body more than most people expect. fig 1. Diwali Ear Safety Guide How crackers affect your ears A single loud blast can be enough to damage the delicate hair cells inside the inner ear. Sounds above about 85 decibels can harm hearing with repeated exposure, and many crackers are far louder than that at close range. After a loud blast you may notice ringing in the ears (tinnitus), a blocked feeling, or muffled hearing. If this does not settle within a day or two, get your ears checked. How cracker smoke affects nose and throat Cracker smoke carries fine particles and chemicals that irritate the lining of the nose and throat. This can cause sneezing, a running or blocked nose, dry cough, sore throat and a scratchy voice. People with a...
In most homes, snoring is a joke. The family teases him about it, someone sleeps in the other room, and life goes on. But when I ask patients a few more questions, the story changes. "Yes doctor, I wake up tired." "Yes, my wife says I stop breathing for a few seconds." "Yes, I fall asleep in meetings." That is not just snoring anymore. Snoring versus sleep apnea fig 1. Snoring Is Not Always Harmless: When It Could Be Sleep Apnea Snoring happens when the airway in the throat narrows during sleep and the tissue vibrates. Plenty of people snore without any serious problem. In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway repeatedly closes for a few seconds during sleep, and breathing stops and starts again. The brain keeps waking you up slightly to restart breathing, and you never reach deep, proper sleep, even after eight hours in bed. Signs that need attention - Loud, regular snoring, especially with choking or gasping sounds - Someone has seen you pause breathin...