Page 29 - 2-13-15 Friday's Edition

Health
Q & A: What’s The Difference Between An Earache And An Ear Infection?
February Is National Children’s Dental Health Month
According to the National Institute of Dental and Cran- iofacial Research, 42 percent of children ages 2 to 11 have cavities on their primary (baby) teeth. Unfortunately, Black and Latino children are among those who have the highest incidence of decay.
These early visits are cru- cial. In fact, when a child’s first tooth appears, parents should make an appointment with the dentist. Parents should also supervise younger children in brushing their teeth at least twice daily.
A healthy diet of fruits and vegetables and curtailing sugar, can help prevent cavi- ties. This along with proper brushing and flossing is essen- tial to a child’s overall health.
Healthy teeth and a beauti- ful smile can have a positive effect on a child’s confidence and self-esteem.
Surprising Health Benefits For Getting Massage... Regularly
Q: Can a cold cause ear pain? What’s the difference between an earache and an infection?
A: Ear pain is usually termed an earache and can be caused by a cold. Earaches due to a cold can come with other symptoms such as diffi- culty sleeping, fever and green or yellow mucus in the nose.
An earache can also be caused by ear infection be- cause that is just the term used for the pain in your ear. The dull, sharp, or burning earache will go away with the cold. Since colds are caused by viruses, the best you can do is treat the cold symptoms and wait out the infection. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help ease your earache.
However, in some people, particularly in children under age 8 and adults who smoke, a second infection occurs in- side the ear when bacteria
cause pus and fluid to fill up the space behind the eardrum In addition to the symp- toms of a cold, an ear infec- tion usually comes with loss of appetite, drainage from the ear, vertigo and difficulty
hearing.
Earache caused by a cold
can be treated with acetamin- ophen or ibuprofen.
Conversely, many ear in- fections are caused by bacte- ria, and can be treated with a course of antibiotics.
If you have an ear infection, you may also:
• Have difficulty sleeping, • Feel dizzy, and
• Feel feverish.
To find out whether you have an ear infection, your doctor will use an otoscope to look for signs of infection in- side your ear such as:
• Bulging eardrum due to the fluid and pus behind the eardrum; the fluid build-up is called “effusion,” and
• An eardrum responding less flexibly than normal; this is checked using a pneumatic otoscope.
If you have symptoms of an ear infection, you should see your doctor because you may need antibiotics.
For most of us, getting a massage is something we do when we want to feel pam- pered, but believe it or not, there are quite a few health benefits that come along with getting a back rub. If a mas- sage is something that only happens once in a blue moon for you, here are four hard-to- resist excuses to go ahead and book an appointment at your nearest spa right now!
Boosts your immune system - When you receive a massage, you’re stimulating lymph flow throughout the body, flushing out pathogens and other toxins from your bloodstream while increasing the amount of white blood cells. The purpose? Your im- mune system will be able to produce the antibodies it needs to fight off infections, especially during this time of year.
Increases your energy levels - Getting frequent massages improves your cir- culation, which makes it eas- ier for essential nutrients to reach your entire body. Also, because massages are super relaxing, you’ll be able to sleep much better. The more sleep you get, the more rested you feel and the more rested
you feel, the more energy you have during the day.
Makes you look younger - A good facial mas- sage can relax your facial muscles and soften those fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a more youthful look. Who wouldn’t want that? And, be- cause massages improve your blood circulation, don’t be surprised when your skin starts looking more radiant.
Relieves stress and anxiety - According to a se- ries of studies conducted by the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine’s Touch Research Institute, massage therapy re- duced cortisol – a stress hor- mone – levels by up 53%.
Additionally, massages promote the release of sero- tonin and dopamine, two neu- rotransmitters that enhance your mood and help reduce depression.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 17-B