Earwax

Earwax

Ear wax is made from some glands in the ear canal that form an oily substance that protect the ear drums and ear canals. Everybody produces some ear wax, but some people may produce too much wax which then hardens and may cause some hearing loss.

The most important thing to remember is not to use an implement such as a cotton bud or even a finger to remove any earwax as this may damage the ear canal and the tiny hairs inside the canal that gently move the wax out to the outer ear, which is how the ear cleans itself.

The cause of excessive earwax may also be from hearing aids or frequent use of ear plugs, which stop the flow of earwax to the outer ear, and may allow the wax to build up, needing careful removal.

Earwax removal is best carried out either by a doctor or nurse, or by seeing your community pharmacist, who will be able to advise you on the right product to soften and aid the removal of ear wax that is bothering you.

Products commonly used to assist in the softening and removal of ear wax use either water or oils to dissolve the wax. Usually several drops of the wax softening solution is placed in the ear canal, and the canal plugged with a little cotton wool overnight, to soak up the dissolved ear wax. This is repeated for two or three nights, to allow the hardened wax to flow out of the ear, and restore the normal amount of lubrication that ear wax provides.

Other options available include a product made from seawater, which is used every night for two weeks to dissolve away any hardened wax.

The use of ear ‘candling’ is controversial, and is claimed by some alternative practitioners to improve health. Its benefit has not been clearly proven, and cannot be recommended as a method to remove excess ear wax.

For advice about ear wax, its removal and help to lessen the impact of excessive ear wax production, your pharmacist will be able to guide you to the right product or refer you to a doctor, nurse or other health professional to ensure that your hearing and ear health is the best it can be.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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