Im an ENT surgeon the top 5 habits secretly wrecking your nose and throat

Sometimes medical advice goes in one ear and out the other.We chug our beloved hot morning beverage of choice, potentially putting our throats at risk for long-term tissue damage.And who among us hasn’t picked a booger, even though it can irritate the sensitive lining of the nose, trigger bleeding and introduce bacteria into the body?And those are just the medical don’ts we know we’re doing.

As it turns out, when it comes to our nose and throats, there are plenty of other medical no-nos you might be committing without even realizing it.Dr.Tonia L.

Farmer, a board-certified otolaryngologist, took to TikTok to share five lesser-known medical don’ts she would never do as a medical doctor who specializes in treating conditions of the ear, nose and throat.If you prefer your nasal cavities bald, you might want to reconsider.“Those hairs are there for a reason,” Farmer said.“They’re your first line of defense to prevent particles from going into your airways.”Waxing and plucking can cause painful ingrown hairs, swelling and infections, including boils or nasal vestibulitis.

The latter happens when bacteria enter the open wound left behind after a hair is pulled from the root.And some blood vessels in the nose connect to veins that drain toward the brain, a serious infection in this area can, in rare cases, lead to severe complications, including cavernous sinus thrombosis.Farmer recommends trimming the hairs that stick out instead, using clean, rounded-tip scissors or an electric nose trimmer.Pulmonary inhalers help people with chronic respiratory conditions literally breathe easier, but Farmer advised against using a steroid-containing pulmonary inhaler, like Advair, without rinsing your mouth afterward.A quick swish and spit of water can help prevent a yeast infection, which can develop when leftover steroid medication lingers in the mouth and throat, she explained.

Rinsing can also wash residue that may contribute to a hoarse voice, sore throat or ...