Page 14 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 31, 2025 TOBACCO CONTROL | FROM PAGE 9 tion Programs – Grade F 2. Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade A 3. Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade B 4. Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade B 5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade A “In addition to grading Massachusetts’s tobacco control policies, this year’s ‘State of Tobacco Control’ report examines the tobacco industry’s increasingly aggressive actions to addict a new generation to tobacco and hinder proven public policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Here in Massachusetts, Donate Your Vehicle Call (866) 618-0011 to donate your car, truck, boat, RV, and more today! ■ Support Veteran Nonprofi ts. ■ Free Pickup & Towing. ■ Top Tax Deduction. Donate Your Vehicle Today 866-618-0011 www.veterancardonations.org/dnt122 While we appreciate every donation, in some cases, we fi nd that we are unable to accept certain vehicles, watercraft, and/or recreational vehicles due to the prohibitive costs of acquisition. If you have any questions, please give us a call at (866) 618-0011. we are seeing tobacco industry lobbyists at the local level working to stop or weaken proven tobacco control policies. The tobacco industry is also introducing new products that appeal to youth like e-cigarettes that mimic smartphones, kid-friendly fl avors and flavored nicotine pouches that are heavily marketed by social media influencers,” said Daniel Fitzgerald at the American Lung Association in Massachusetts. “In 2025, policymakers in Massachusetts must focus on increasing funding for tobacco prevention and quit smoking programs, increasing the tobacco tax by a minimum of $1.00 per pack and tax non-cigarette tobacco products at a comparable rate, and preventing rollbacks to tobacco control funding, statewide fl avor restrictions and other tobacco prevention laws.” Despite receiving over $577M TOBACCO CONTROL | SEE PAGE 16 Say nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller The Surprising Dangers of Earwax Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve heard that excessive earwax can cause serious health problems in elderly seniors. What can you tell me about this? Caregiving Daughter Dear Caregiving, It’s true! Excessive amounts of earwax can indeed cause problems in elderly seniors including hearing loss or ringing in your ears. Some people experience vertigo, which increases the risk of falling. And there’s also a correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline and depression. Earwax – which is not really wax at all, but a substance called cerumen that binds with dirt, dust and debris – is normally produced by the body as a way to clean and protect the ears. In most people, the self-cleaning process works fi ne. But in others, including more than 30 percent of elderly people, the wax collects to the point where it can completely block or impact the ear canal. Those that are most aff ected are elderly seniors, especially those living in nursing homes or assisted living centers that provide substandard hygiene. And those highest at risk are hearing-aid users because the devices push wax down into the canal. Earwax Removal Usually, earwax moves up and out on its own so the best way to control it is to leave it alone. But that advice can backfi re for those who accumulate excessive amounts of earwax. The symptoms of an earwax problem can include an earache, a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, an ear infection, ear itchiness, or cough due to pressure from the blockage stimulating a nerve in the ear. If you or your elderly loved one’s experience any of these symptoms, try using a softening agent to help the wax leave the ear or to remove it more easily. If you prefer the natural route, try baby oil or mineral oil. Using an eyedropper, apply a drop or two into your ear, tilting your head so that the opening of the ear is pointing up toward the ceiling. Stay in that position for a minute or two to let the fl uid fl ow down to the waxy buildup. Then tilt your head in the opposite direction to let the fl uid and wax drain. Or try an over-the-counter earwax removal solution or kit, which are sold in most pharmacies. Solutions may contain oil or hydrogen peroxide, and some kits include a bulb syringe that you squeeze to fl ush your ear with warm water, if needed. You may need to repeat this wax-softening and irrigation procedure several times before getting rid of the excess earwax. If, however, the symptoms don’t improve after a few treatments, you need to see an audiologist or ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor to have the wax removed. Earwax removal is one of the most common ENT procedures performed. They have a variety of tools that can remove hard, stubborn earwax. It might be tempting to poke a cotton swab, bobby pin, pencil or fi nger into your ear to get the gunk out, but don’t go digging. Yes, it’ll remove some of the wax, but it may also push the rest deeper into the ear canal and increase your risk of injuring your eardrum and making the problem worse. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior
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