Sometimes medical advice goes in one ear and out the other.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t picked a booger, even though it can irritate the sensitive lining of the nose, trigger bleeding and introduce bacteria into the body?<\/p>\n
And those are just the medical don\u2019ts we know we\u2019re doing. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Dr. Tonia L. Farmer, a board-certified otolaryngologist, shares some of the everyday nose and throat habits she would never do\/ TikTok\/@drnosebest<\/p>\n
Dr. Tonia L. Farmer<\/a>, a board-certified otolaryngologist, took to TikTok to share five lesser-known medical don\u2019ts she would never do as a medical doctor who specializes in treating conditions of the ear, nose and throat.<\/p>\n 1. Waxing or plucking nose hairs<\/p>\n If you prefer your nasal cavities bald, you might want to reconsider.<\/p>\n \u201cThose hairs are there for a reason,\u201d Farmer said. \u201cThey\u2019re your first line of defense to prevent particles from going into your airways.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Farmer recommends trimming the hairs that stick out instead, using clean, rounded-tip scissors or an electric nose trimmer.<\/p>\n A quick rinse after using a pulmonary inhaler can help prevent a yeast infection in the throat. Graphicroyalty \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n 2. Using an inhaler without rinsing afterward<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 cough.<\/p>\n A rinse generally isn\u2019t needed after using a rescue inhaler, like albuterol, unless it\u2019s part of a steroid-containing combination.<\/p>\n 3. Popping a pimple in the triangle zone<\/p>\n Kenny Loggins was right: The danger zone is real \u2014 and it\u2019s much closer than you think.<\/p>\n The triangular area running from the corners of your mouth up to the bridge of your nose contains blood vessels connected to the cavernous sinus, a major venous space inside your skull near the brain.<\/p>\n Some of these veins lack valves, the tiny flaps that normally help stop the blood from flowing backwards. <\/p>\n So popping a pimple or picking a sore in this area \u2014 or plucking or waxing nose hairs \u2014 can introduce bacteria into the bloodstream and, in rare cases, lead to serious infections. <\/p>\n Potential complications include cavernous sinus thrombosis, a dangerous and rare blood clot in the brain\u2019s venous space, as well as meningitis, brain abscesses and vision loss. <\/p>\n 4. Snorting drugs<\/p>\n Doing recreational drugs is pretty much a universal health care don\u2019t. But sometimes knowing the why behind the don\u2019t is a much more helpful deterrent.<\/p>\n Farmer warned that repeatedly snorting drugs such as cocaine can lead to a perforated septum<\/a>, a hole in the tissue separating the two sides of the nose.<\/p>\n Chronic cocaine use can also severely damage the mucosa, a tissue lining the nasal passages, potentially causing the nose to collapse.<\/p>\n Farmer has had to operate on patients who\u2019ve swallowed metal bristles that were stuck to grilled food. Jan \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n 5. Cleaning a grill with a metal brush<\/p>\n BBQ grills can get pretty gnarly \u2014 but metal grill brushes can be a major safety hazard<\/a> because the metal bristles can break off. They can then transfer to the foods being cooked.<\/p>\n \u201cThen when you swallow the foods, you can accidentally get those fibers lodged in your throat,\u201d she said. \u201cHow do I know? Because I\u2019ve had to remove them in the operating room.\u201d<\/p>\n