HEALTH NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 65, 17 March 1928, Page 17

HEALTH NOTES

NOSE AND THROAT SOME COMMON DEFECTS (Contributed -by -the Department of ' • ■ ■ " Health.) All ordinary breathing- should take place through the nose, which is specially fitted to prepare, tho air for entrance to the lungs, the walls of the nasal cavity being damp and lined with hairs which collect dust and other impurities. The. germs of disease are held back and destroyed in the secretion of the nose. Air,-therefore, which ".is. breathed in through the nose enters the lungs, warm, moist, and free from dirt and germs. On the other' hand, air taken by the mouth enters the lungs, dry, cold, and laden with dust and germs, so that it irritates the throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs. The mouth; breather, therefore, is liable to chronic sore- throat, frequent.colds, and nasal catarrh, ■enlarged" Tonsils)"' bronchitis, poor chest' expansion," and is more readily affected by such diseases'"as consumption, diphtheria, scarlet fever; mouth breathers tend to have highly arched narrow palates, .causing interference with the growth and development of the jaws and. resulting in irregularity and early decay of the teeth. The nose also does not develop-proper-ly, the nostrils being pinched and the bridge, defective. .'.■•■ ■ MOUTH BREATHING. . Unhealthy conditions of the nose arid throat are ant to result in deafness, which may Be permanent, also in other ear troubles, such, as earache and discharging ears owing; to ■spread qf -inflammatiori to;the-middle eair.,. ■ s :;;. Every effort, should:Bc'viu ado.to.overcome the habit of'iriouth'.•'breathing in children by , instruction'-,.iiu :.-th'c proper use of the handkerchief and "by breath-' ing exercises.; ■} if; ;;.h6>vpyfejFj:jihe'fo- is actuar obstruction in ;tlip;Bpsc; and throat an; operation be;: necessary-tore-' move thispjioi'.-to the 'use fqf 'these re!:medial'm"easufesl;;:V;.;V;'fA'r;:); ';' . ;. . Many^ cfiildren; snffer^f ranj;; obstructed' breathing'^ufe^o'yiabnlri^aiccohditioiis; of the np^e>and.^roat.^?'|iK'<i.QJn]iioneßt.' of /these conditions isiadenoids .with, or Without '^hlarje^'.'to^'Uß^V'i'^enoids are |.Bue'to'_overgro*th|;p^^eviissue:B^uat'eC &t the back;o.f ; jthe'vn&.so}pharynx (that space at toe back pfthb^ throat 'which is? the begi4ning,;;b;'£:/^efer,es^i:rs»t6,rjr' pas-., sage and'into,^hich(the/ea^ities of the;; niouth-and riose^ open.)^'';"":';' : | The tonsils 'are : situated ron either side of the throat ;Tvhere;|hey may be seen as fishy protrubera'nees,:not large' enough;under healthy Conditions;to obstruct free air. .entry\:intb.\the'respira-. ■ tory;passage. ■" * :-:-y ■■''■''r.y/.i%"'^.i;'' . >;■*■-. ; .■<■;■; \^^:A;;-^ENprpSi;:^:/ .:". :l ■ If pvergrbwth:;bf{;adeTO^Missues ojr pf, ■ tpnsils,;.ooeurs;?;:;aip'Wintry, •••from-"-" the lioso is largely closed and.mouth: breathing foJlowa with the-evil.results-above. Children, who. suffer/from .adenoids and. enlarged.tonsils :ai;e ■ aiVaVrulb of poor nutrition and general health. They often appear to be'mentally dull, partly because their 'hearing may be1 defective. Children with enlarged'- unhealthytonsils are more liable-to develop ..rheumatism and heart -trouble gernis which cause these; as'well ; as other dis-: eases often enter the system through diseased tonsils. Thus it, is evident that medical advice should be sought early when' obstructed breathing is suspected in children.,. .■ GREAT PREVENTIVES. v To promote healthy, conditions of the' nose and throat and to prevent the development of enlarged tonsils and adenoids, remeinbei\ that sunligh't'and.fresh air'are your child's.best friends. Air is necessary for. life—fresh air for healthy life. :An abundant supply of fresh air is essential for the preserva-' tion of health. This applies both to children and to adults. T»Vant of fresh air predisposes also-to serious forms of disease, especially' to tuberculosis, by bringing f.bout a low,state of health" and reducing resistance. Tho bedroom windows should be kept wide open day and night. , ' /Stuffy overcrowded rooms foster the growth of adenoids. Avoid the use of" "dummies"- in infancy. Keep the' teeth clean and sound.: ..Give children hard food such as crusts) oven-toasted bread, and apples. .Chewing hard fooddevelops strong, widely-arched jaws, and so lessens the tendency to adenoids. Teach children to use 'handkerchiefs thoroughly. This prevents blockage of the nose and consequent mouth-breath-i.ug- . ' '- In mild cases -of unhealthy tonsils a gargle (one level teaspoonful of salt to a tumbler ,of:.cold:WAter).used regularly night and morning may bring about considerable improvement. If this treatment is not successful, obtain further medical advice.' Bemember: That adenoids-and enlarged tonsils are open : doors' for disease germs... .Neglect., of-these conditions may mean permanent delicacy of body and-dullness of mind. ■'■'•.