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Facts about Swimmers Ear

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All you need to know about Swimmer’s Ear can be found in this quick fact sheet I have put together for you. I have briefly explained what swimmers ear is in a recent blog and why swimmers use earplug to prevent the condition. However, this guide will tell you about the signs of swimmers ear and what measures to take to prevent any future infection.

  • Swimmers ear is an infection that is found in the external ear and outer part of the ear canal.
  • With the infection you may experience swollenness, redness and soreness
  • You may experience itching, which can set off the pain and may notice discharge from the ear.
  • There is a subtle difference between otitis externa (swimmer’s ear) and otitis media, which is a middle ear infection. To distinguish the infection wiggle or pull your ear, if you can do this without any discomfort or pain you will have the symptoms of Otitis Media.
  • Using cotton wool swabs can make you more susceptible to swimmer’s ear.
  • The most common cause is the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is commonly found in water, soil and plants.
  • It is not contagious, but should be treated with antibiotics

If you are experiencing the symptoms of swimmer’s ear or otitis externa (the medical term) it is extremely important to contact your local GP for information and guidance on treating the infection.

If you or your child has had an encounter with the infection, here are some tips to prevent the chance of having swimmers ear returning in the future:

  • After swimming, make sure your ears are dry, the simple use of an ear dryer could be the answer you have been looking for.
  • The use of eardrops could also help prevent ear infections
  • Children should not use cotton swabs to clean their ears, or be left to clean their ears unsupervised.
  • Make sure the chlorine levels are at a safe level and do not swim in contaminated water.

Get a good night’s sleep

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Sleep is a critical when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You are expected to have 7-9 hours sleep per night to allow your body to rest and restore itself after the day’s activities. This can be extremely hard to maintain especially if you are a light sleeper when the nights are becoming a lot lighter or you have a partner who likes to snore.

It is estimated that over 1 billion people, with the US, Germany and the UK estimating to represent over 70 million snores alone with 60% of snorers being male whilst 40% are women. So if we take into account that there are over 1 billion snores out there and say for arguments sake they have significant others, there are also over 1 billion people who suffer from a bad night’s sleep due to their partners sleeping. This brings to the total of over 2 billion people in the world that do not have the much needed sleep their bodies require.

A simple yet effective way to help those with getting a good night’s sleep is the use of sleep and snoring earplugs. Not only will these earplugs allow you to block out the sounds of your snoring partner, but also the sound of ongoing traffic and other noisy factors.

For those who can’t sleep due to the nights getting lighter a simple solution is wearing a night shade. I have found they are extremely comfortable to wear as I even forgot I had it on and woke up thinking it was still late at night.

Saving Money this Holiday Season

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The stores are loaded with holiday decorations and the sales event of the year has begun. Given the current economy, many large discount stores are offering great deals on toys, appliances, televisions and other common gift items. The idea, of course, is to entice holiday spending as if we aren’t really in economic trouble. Are these sales enough?

As with any sale, you have to consider whether it’s really going to save you money to buy something simply because it’s on sale. It’s like using a coupon for a food product you just don’t like. What will you do if your son asked for a specific Transformer but a similar one is on sale? Is it worth the savings to give a gift slightly less than the one he wanted? Tough choices.
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