Swabs were invented in the 1920s for the purpose of ear-cleaning. Due to relatively low public awareness, the practice has persisted even after doctors and manufacturers alike have pointed out how dangerous they are. The warning label on Q-Tip boxes reads "CAUTION: Do not enter ear canal. … Entering the ear canal could cause injury."
Curious children often try to use them, which is particularly dangerous as their ears are delicate. According to a 2017 study, more than 260,000 children (under the age of 18) were treated for cotton swab-related ear injuries from 1990 to 2010.
What can potentially go wrong when using swabs for cleaning ears?
Swabs are inserted into the ears in order to "clean" the cavity. But this can actually have the opposite effect and end up pushing ear wax deeper into the ear canal. As a response, people are more likely to insert the swab deeper as well.
"Anything that fits in the ear could cause serious harm to the eardrum and canal with the potential for temporary or even permanent damage," said Dr. Seth Schwartz, one of the otolaryngologists who drafted guidelines for diagnosing and treating earwax for the American Academy of Otolaryngology in 2017.
Swabs can also tear or rupture the eardrum, leading to pain or bleeding at the least. The worst case scenario is considered to be a permanent hearing loss. This rupture, known as a perforated eardrum, may heal on its own or require surgery depending on the severity.
Being overweight may not be as unhealthy as it was 40 years ago," BBC News reports. New research has found a body mass index (BMI) of 27 is linked to the lowest rate of death – but someone with a BMI of 27 is currently classed as being overweight. BMI is a score calculated by dividing your weight (usually in kilograms) by the square of your height (usually in metres and centimetres). Currently, a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is classified as being overweight. Researchers looked at 120,528 people from Copenhagen, recruited from 1976 to 2013, and separately compared those recruited during the 1970s, 1990s and 2000s. They were followed up until they died, emigrated, or the study finished. The BMI linked to the lowest risk of having died from any cause was 23.7 in the 1970s group, 24.6 in the 1990s group, and had further risen to 27 in the 2003-13 group. It may be the case that the suggested upward shift in optimal BMI is the result of improvements in preventative treatments for weight-rela...