How to Get Water Out of Your Ears

A fix for swimmer's ear that doesn't involve shaking your head.

If you feel like you have half the Pacific trapped inside your ear, it's because that part of your ear canal runs down and backward, and gravity is working against you. The answer is not hopping around and shaking your head like a rhythmically challenged dancer. The fix: Dry your ear with a towel, tilt your head (waterlogged ear toward the shoulder), grab your lobe, and pull it down, says James King, MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. If you're prone to infection or swimmer's ear, ask your doctor whether alcohol drops can help.

From Reader's Digest - July 2008

 

• • Common Problems
• Summer Season

• Protect Your Hearing
• Hear a pin drop with these ear-improving ideas
• 
• How Loud Is Too Loud?
• Learn about safe decibel levels and protect your hearing
• 
• Prevent Backyard Accidents
• Ensure kids have fun all summer long by being aware of these potential dangers.
• 
• Quiz: Summer Safety
• 

“ Use your knuckle to rub your eyes. It's less likely to be contaminated with viruses than your fingertip. ”

• See All Tips