Health Highlights: Dec. 30, 2007

Here's to a Happy and Healthy New Ear -- and Nose and Throat

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery is offering some tips to protect the health of your ears, nose and throat in the new year.

"Ear, nose, and throat health problems are some of the most common ailments that Americans face," Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel, associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the Boston University School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement. "From colds and the flu in the winter to allergies in the spring, a few simple tips can help people enjoy a more productive, healthful 2008."

More than 37 million American adults suffer from the common respiratory condition sinusitis, and 45 million children and adults struggle with recurring seasonal and perennial allergies. Each season can bring a variety of ear, nose, and throat problems, the academy said.

The otolaryngologists -- doctors trained to treat conditions of the ear, nose, and throat -- recommend following these tips:

Track your symptoms. Each winter, many people assume they're only suffering from a one-time bout with a cold or flu when they develop symptoms like a stuffy nose or watery eyes. But, they may have a chronic condition like sinusitis or allergies that can be easily controlled with proper treatment. If you suffer from the same symptoms time after time, or they occur at the same time every year, see an otolaryngologist for a diagnosis. Enjoy leisure time, but be aware. During the summer and fall, kids are at their most active. After a day at the pool, check with your kids to make sure they aren't suffering from symptoms of swimmer's ear. It's easy for water to get trapped in the ear canal after a swim or even a bath. Turn the volume down. Most people are exposed to noise 365 days a year, but they can help their hearing health by turning down the volume when they listen to music, watch TV, or use their cell phones. More than 20 million Americans have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from too much loud noise.

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Milk Considered Source of Food Poisoning That Killed 2 in Mass.

Massachusetts health officials have warned consumers not to drink milk produced by a local dairy, saying it was probably the source of a bacterial illness that killed two men and sickened two others, theAssociated Pressreported.

Whittier Farms has suspended operations and distribution, said Dr. Alfred DeMaria, the state director of communicable disease control, theAPreported. The news service said calls to Whittier Farms seeking comment were not immediately returned on Thursday.

The state Department of Public Health issued the warning Thursday after identifying four cases of listeriosis. Two of the victims, a 78-year-old man and a 75-year-old man, died in June and October, theAPsaid.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteriumListeria monocytogenes. The disease affects primarily pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal problems such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur.