We often lump snot and earwax into the same category—annoying, sticky substances our bodies create. However, both play essential roles in keeping us healthy. Snot and earwax help clear germs and debris, protecting your body from harm. Let’s explore why they’re so important and when to visit an ENT specialist about them.
Snot: Keeping Your Airways Safe
Snot, or nasal mucus, is more than a nuisance. It’s a multitasking powerhouse that:
- Keeps things hydrated. Snot moisturizes your nasal passages, preventing them from drying out and becoming irritated.
- Acts as a barrier. Snot traps bacteria, viruses, dust and other harmful particles, stopping them before they can enter your body.
- Warning you about nasal issues. Snot can’t detect every health issue, but its color is often an important indicator that something in your nose isn’t right. For example, white snot usually means you’re congested, while green or yellow snot may indicate an infection.
Without congestion, most snot drips into the throat unnoticed. If you feel congestion, facial pressure or other nasal or sinus symptoms, reach out to one of our experts at Midwest ENT Centre to address the issue.
Earwax: Clearing Out Debris
Similar to snot, your ears produce wax to protect you. A few ways earwax helps you include:
- Clearing debris. Your earwax traps dust, debris and viruses, preventing them from working their way into your auditory system.
- Waterproofing. Wax waterproofs the lining of your ear canal to minimize damage from water exposure.
- Warns you about ear issues. Healthy earwax typically ranges from off-white or yellow to brown, darkening as it ages. However, certain colors can signal issues: green earwax may indicate an ear infection, black wax could suggest a blockage and brownish-red wax might point to a ruptured eardrum.
Most people think earwax needs to be manually removed, but your body actually takes care of it for you. As earwax ages, it naturally moves out of the ear canal. In some cases, excess wax can cause blockages, but these are best handled by a professional. Earwax is a sign that your ears are working to protect you, so unless you experience symptoms like muffled hearing, ear pain or color changes, you can relax and let your body do its job.
Snot and earwax might seem annoying, but they play an essential role in keeping your body healthy. If you’re dealing with nasal or ear issues, contact Midwest ENT Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.