Well, the one I want to share with you today is one of the reasons I can't hear well in class these few days. I seem to have caught a cold somewhere. No idea where and when, and I used the word "seem" because I didn't visit a doctor but the symptoms fit: sore throat, stuffy nose, dry throat, tiredness, slight runny nose.
http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/human-being/sense-organs/hearing/structure-ear.jpg
But what is new for me, something that I have never ever had before when I caught cold, is ear pressure. Generally, ear pressure can be easily cured by simple ear clearing techniques, but not this time. I tried everything from yawning to swallowing, as well as those maneuver suggested here. None of them worked. I guess I must wait until I am fully recovered before the pressure will go away.
Baby Yawning
http://mentalfloss.cachefly.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/baby-yawn.jpg
In serious cases, pressure not released can cause damage in the ear drum, called Ear Barotrauma, but the complication mostly happens to divers, since I haven't done any diving, I suppose my ear drums are still intact.
Anyway, my experience these few days allowed me to realise once more that if we have good health, we are being blessed. This is because it is never guaranteed that we have good health, and we must never take it for granted that our health will sustain if we don't continuously maintain it. The weather is changing fast, so everybody please take good care of yourselves. You can only do what you want when you have good health.
Vocabulary:
complication -- an extra medical problem which makes it more difficult to treat an existing illness
intact -- not damaged
take it for granted -- If you take situations or people for granted, you do not realise or show that you are grateful for how much you get from them
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuffy_nose
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valsalva_maneuver#Normalizing_middle-ear_pressures
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_clearing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yawning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_clearing#Methods
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barotrauma#Ear_barotrauma
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=15679&dict=CALD&topic=disease-and-illness-general-words
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=41261&dict=CALD
Hi Locky, your ear pressure caused by no specific reason prompts me to recall my friend's case that it was eventually developed into nasal cancer of final stage when it was confirmed by running a tissue diagnosis. It took less than a year from the date of this sympton appeared to the time of confirmation as cancer. In between the situation was a bit ignored and taken as a minor issue to care it. Please don't overlook it as the situation persists or on and off happens (my friend received the best luck out of the bad lucks as he is now well on track in the recovery after so many times of painful chemical and radiation treatment)
ReplyDeleteMaurice
Hi Maurice,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your advice.
Does your friend smoke? Because I never do.
Cheers!
Locky
Hi Locky,
ReplyDeleteIt’s reasonable and acceptable to skip some entry dates when you are tired or feel not well. Hope your ear pressure will release asap! Take more rest!
Sharon
No, he doesn't. He is the most disciplined person among all my friends. Never smoke, seldom drink and rare late activities in nights. He is also a frequent traveler like me, but he prefers to stay in hotel by himself to do some reading or surf in the net. I am the opposite, like to stay with customers or friends to chat in the pubs. Please let me know if the situation does not go away. I'll ask him to give you some advices to proceed next.
ReplyDeleteMaurice
He doesn't. He is the most disciplined guy among all my friends. Never smoke, seldom drink and rare late activities in nights. He is also a frequent traveler like me but he prefers to stay in the hotel by himself to do some reading or surf in the net. I am the opposite, like to stay with customers or friends to chat in pubs. Please let me know if your situation does not go away. I can ask him some advices for you what to proceed next.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for him. I'm getting better now. Doctor has checked mine, but I will bear in mind this point if it happens again.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maurice