Detox Teas – Do They Work?

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Detox teas are a controversial topic. For thousands of years, humans have been trying to rid their bodies of what they believe are toxins. Some historic “detox” practices include bloodletting, enemas, sweat lodges or saunas, fasting, and drinking herbal preparations. Some of these practices were even accepted as medical treatments before the advent of modern medicine. In the age of social media, you might have seen celebrities or even your friends posing with a pack of detox-tea on Facebook or on Instagram.

Detox teas are usually a mixture of tea leaves and other natural ingredients like berries, fruits, spices, herbs and roots.

Do detox teas actually help to detox the body?

Tea is generally considered healthy. Multiple studies over the years have shown an association with tea and health benefits including cardiovascular health, blood pressure regulation, mood regulation, mental performance and maintenance of weight and energy levels too. Tea contains tea flavonoids, polyphenols, in particular catechins and epicatechins and antioxidants which health benefits are still being studied and validated. Whether or not teas slapped with a detox label does what it actually says – remove toxins – is still very debatable. 

The additional natural ingredients may also have health benefits. Many ingredients of traditional medicine are currently being investigated scientifically, and some of them have been shown to have health benefits. 

Real weight loss or just a loss in water weight? 

Most of these detox teas do contain tea leaves, and tea does have caffeine. Caffeine is known to be a stimulant which can raise your metabolism. Caffeine can also act to suppress your appetite. Through such a mechanism, you might enter a caloric deficit by burning more calories, and eating less. This kind of weight loss is true weight loss. 

However, certain detox teas do contain supplements which act like laxatives, or medical laxatives itself. The effect of these laxatives are claimed as colon cleansing, which is often recommended as part of a detox plan. Such laxatives can cause cramping, bloating, nausea and vomiting. Dehydration and electrolyte loss can also be a concern. Such a weight loss is mainly water weight loss, and is not healthy, nor sustainable. 

Side effects or dangers of detox teas?

The detox teas that are conservative mixes of tea leaves and natural products are usually not more dangerous than regular teas. However some detox teas may include, in large amounts, natural products that have a prominent biological effect on our body. Some brands may also have additional chemical ingredients that could harm your health.

As mentioned above, diarrhea could be a side effect of these teas. These may be from the laxative effect of natural plant-based sennosides, or actual laxative medications. Excessive diarrhea can lead to dehydration and electrolyte loss, which may leave you lethargic and weak. Some compounds, including caffeine, are also diuretic, which can cause you to pass more urine than normal. Severe diarrhea and dehydration has led to death, so this is a side effect of concern. 

Appetite suppressants or stimulants like caffeine are commonly found in detox teas. Ingesting too many stimulants may leave you irritable, unfocused and jittery, similar to when you drink too much energy drinks. You may also suffer from insomnia if these teas are taken too late in the day. Illegal stimulants like ephedra and medications such as ephedrine have been found in detox teas. These may trigger heart attacks, strokes, seizures and cause even death, especially in people with pre-existing medical conditions. 

Diabetic medications that lower your blood sugar level have been found inside detox teas. People who are on detox teas may also be eating less, contributing to a lower blood sugar level. Such a situation can lead to hypoglycemia, where the sugar level in your blood is dangerously low. This can lead to sweating, confusion, shaking, loss of consciousness and even death.

Some of the herbs that are inside detox teas may have drug-drug interactions with the medications that people are currently taking, raising the levels of the medication in your body to toxic levels. Some herbs themselves if ingested in large enough quantities, may also put strain on your kidney and liver. This has the opposite of detoxing your body, poisoning your body instead. 

Are there any benefits to detox teas?

Not all detox teas are harmful. Tea itself does have health benefits. The other natural ingredients (in conservative amounts) may also serve to improve your health. But please use it with caution and moderation. These teas, if used, should be incorporated into a healthier lifestyle.

Is it healthy to consume detox teas long-term?

The manufacturers themselves do not recommend taking detox teas in the long run. If you do decide to try out a detox tea, stick to the recommended serving guide, and be vigilant about any side effects that may occur. If these side effects are causing you any discomfort, it is recommended that you stop. 

What are some recommendations for detoxing the body in place of consuming detox teas?

The human body is more than capable of clearing out waste products for the vast majority of us. This is what our bodies have evolved to do to keep us alive. Our kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, gut and skin are all working hard every day to process all of the substances that we come in contact with, and they do a good job at it. The best thing to do is to not add additional burden to the body. 

The very fact that you are considering a detox tea means that you are willing to do something to change your lifestyle for the better. Use this motivation to kick start good habits. The detox tea can be the spearhead in the charge to a better you. 

Also read: Weight Loss Treatment

An overall healthy and balanced diet with whole grains, fish, fruits and vegetables, and less red and processed meat is a key component to a healthy life. Processed foods have been shown to be poor in nutrition, laden with salt and fat and contribute to obesity and cardiovascular disease. Unprocessed and minimally processed foods on the other hand are packed full of nutrition, keeps you full for longer and is essential for your bodily functions. Try and limit the frequency and amount of processed foods to a minimum.

Physical activity and exercise is just as important as the quantity and quality of food. The Health Promotion Board of Singapore recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity a week. Health benefits of regular physical activity include a 20 – 50% reduced risk of premature death, incidence of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer and breast cancer, to name just a few. If you are just starting to get into more physical activity, it is always advisable to start slow and ramp up your physical activity slowly. This will help minimize musculoskeletal injuries. The lack of time should not be an excuse to pass on both healthier food options and exercise

It is also advisable to drink lots of water. Water makes up about 60% of our body weight and is essential for our survival. Water gets rid of wastes through urination, perspiration and bowel movements. It keeps your temperature normal, lubricates and cushions joints, protects organs and tissues and maintains the electrolyte balance in our body to name just a few. This is the form of detox that definitely has no opponents. 

Getting enough sleep every night is essential as sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health and quality of life. Sleep is the time where the body and brain heals itself and recharges for the next day. Sleep deprivation has been shown to be associated with chronic diseases, decreased mental and physical performance and even reduced immune function. 

Just remember that there are no shortcuts to a healthy lifestyle. That however should not stop you from living the best life. 

 

*Parts of this article were first published in CLEO.

Saxenda

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Apa itu Saxenda?

Saxenda adalah jenama ubat suntikan yang dikenali sebagai Liraglutide. Ini adalah ubat yang disahkan untuk pengurusan berat badan sebagai tambahan kepada diet dan senaman. Liraglutide tergolong dalam kumpulan ubat yang dikenali sebagai agonis reseptor peptida-1 glukagon (agonis reseptor GLP-1), juga dikenali sebagai peniru incretin. Saxenda sangat mirip dengan GLP-1, hormon yang berlaku secara semula jadi di dalam badan yang dilepaskan sebagai tindak balas terhadap pengambilan makanan dan bertindak sebagai pengatur fisiologi selera makan dan pencernaan.

GLP-1 yang dihasilkan oleh badan kita cepat dipecahkan, mengakibatkan jangka hayat yang pendek kurang dari 2 minit. Saxenda meniru GLP-1, tetapi tahan lebih lama, dengan jangka hayat sekitar 13 jam ketika disuntik. Kerana jangka hayatnya yang panjang, ia dapat bertindak pada reseptor GLP-1 lebih lama, memberikan kesan fisiologinya.

Reseptor GLP-1 boleh didapati di beberapa organ, termasuk otak, pankreas, saluran gastrointestinal, jantung, pembuluh darah dan ginjal. Saxenda berfungsi dengan mengikat reseptor di nukleus arkuat hipotalamus di otak, di mana ia merangsang rasa kenyang dan menghalang neuron kelaparan. Kerana ini, anda makan lebih sedikit, menyebabkan penurunan berat badan.

Apa kegunaan Saxenda?

Sekiranya anda gemuk, atau berlebihan berat badan dengan masalah yang berkaitan dengan berat badan (seperti tekanan darah tinggi, kolesterol tinggi, atau diabetes jenis 2), ubat ini dapat membantu menurunkan berat badan. Saxenda bertujuan untuk digunakan bersama dengan kawalan diet dan senaman.

Satu kajian yang diterbitkan pada tahun 2017 dilakukan dengan 3731 pesakit diikuti selama lebih dari 56 minggu. Pesakit sama ada mempunyai BMI 30 atau lebih tanpa diabetes, atau BMI 27 atau lebih dengan sekurang-kurangnya satu masalah perubatan yang berkaitan dengan berat badan. Pesakit-pesakit ini dibahagikan kepada dua kumpulan. Kedua-dua kumpulan diberitahu untuk mengawal diet dan senaman mereka.

Satu kumpulan diberi Saxenda dan kumpulan yang lain diberi plasebo. 1 daripada 3 pesakit yang dirawat dengan Saxenda mencapai penurunan berat badan lebih dari 10%. Pesakit yang dirawat dengan Saxenda yang menyelesaikan percubaan mencapai penurunan berat badan rata-rata 9.2% dan mengekalkan berat badan selama satu tahun. Pesakit juga mengalami pengurangan faktor risiko kardiometabolik.

Bagaimana cara menggunakan Saxenda?

Saxenda adalah ubat suntikan yang biasanya diberikan sekali sehari. Ia disuntik di bawah kulit pada bila-bila masa sepanjang hari (biasanya pada waktu pagi), dengan atau tanpa makan. Terdapat pelbagai tempat yang boleh anda suntik, tetapi biasanya, ia disuntik ke kulit di sekitar perut. Ia hadir dalam pena suntikan yang sudah siap dengan jarum pakai buang. Doktor akan mengajar anda dengan tepat cara menyuntik ubat ini, dan menggunakan tempat yang berbeza untuk disuntik setiap kali.

Siapa yang sesuai untuk penggunaan Saxenda?

Anda sesuai sekiranya anda

• berat badan berlebihan (BMI ≥27) dengan masalah perubatan yang berkaitan dengan berat badan (mis. Tekanan darah tinggi, kolesterol tinggi, atau diabetes jenis 2)

• obes (BMI ≥30) dengan atau tanpa masalah perubatan yang berkaitan dengan berat badan

Siapa yang tidak boleh menggunakan Saxenda?

Sekiranya anda sedang menggunakan insulin untuk rawatan Diabetes, Saxenda mungkin tidak sesuai untuk anda. Keselamatan Saxenda belum dipelajari ketika diambil bersama produk preskripsi, ubat bebas, atau penurunan berat badan herba lain. Tidak diketahui apakah Saxenda dapat digunakan dengan selamat pada orang yang menderita pankreatitis.

Saxenda tidak digalakkan untuk digunakan pada kanak-kanak. Keselamatan Saxenda belum dinilai dalam rawatan khusus Diabetes jenis 2 (walaupun ubat lain yang dikenali sebagai Victoza mempunyai bahan aktif yang sama).

Adakah kesan sampingan semasa menggunakan Saxenda?

Kesan sampingan yang paling biasa dari Saxenda menjejas system penghadaman dan boleh merangkumi loya, cirit-birit, sembelit, muntah, sakit perut dan perut kembung. Beberapa pesakit mungkin mengalami sakit kepala, gula darah rendah, pening, keletihan atau perubahan rasa juga. Umumnya boleh diterima dengan baik dan doktor secara beransur-ansur akan meningkatkan dos selama beberapa minggu untuk mengurangkan risiko kesan sampingan

Apakah pilihan rawatan penurunan berat badan yang lain?

Pengendalian diet dan senaman adalah kaedah utama rawatan untuk menurunkan berat badan. Bahkan Saxenda dimaksudkan untuk digunakan sebagai tambahan untuk pengendalian diet dan latihan untuk menurunkan berat badan. Terdapat ubat lain untuk mengawal selera makan dan mengurangkan penyerapan lemak atau karbohidrat dari usus juga. Anda boleh mendapatkan lebih banyak maklumat dari halaman ini https://www.dtapclinic.com/family-medicine/weight-loss-treatment/

Apa kebaikan dan keburukan Saxenda dibandingkan dengan pilihan rawatan lain?

Kelemahan utama adalah Saxenda merupakan ubat suntikan. Sebilangan besar ubat penurunan berat badan lain adalah dalam bentuk tablet oral. Walaubagaimanapun, kami tahu bahawa Saxenda adalah alat yang berkesan dalam pengurusan berat badan.

Bincangkan dengan doktor anda mengenai kesesuaian ubat untuk anda. Sekiranya anda berminat untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut mengenai Rawatan Berat Badan, sila hubungi Klinik kami atau hantarkan e-mel kepada kami di hello@dtapclinic.com.sg untuk temu janji dengan doktor kami.

 

Is More Rice Really Better?

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Last week, I was queuing with a friend at a cooked rice stall for dinner. When it was my friend’s turn to order, I noted that he ordered an additional portion of rice. He usually does not do that; in fact, he usually asks for lesser rice as he is rather health conscious.
I asked him casually if he was particularly hungry that evening. His response shocked me. He said “I am not that hungry, but I read in the newspaper that eating more rice will help fight obesity”
I was baffled. How would eating more rice help someone lose weight? My years as a doctor has taught me otherwise. In fact, I tell my patients on a regular basis to reduce their portions if they are trying to lose weight. I corrected my friend but was met with resistance. He defended his statement by saying that the article was based on a study published in a European journal and that the newspapers couldn’t possibly be wrong. Having not read the article myself, I told him I would find the article, read it, and get back to him.
That night, I went home and found the Straits Times article published 1st of May 2019, titled “More grain, less gain? Eating rice helps fight obesity: Study”

After reading it, I realised that the article could be very easily misinterpreted.

Caloric balance (intake vs. output)

Weight gain or loss can be easily explained through a concept known as caloric balance (intake vs. output). It really is just an equation where
Caloric balance = Energy intake – Energy output
What this equation means is that if you expend more energy than you take in from food, you will have a negative caloric balance. After a period of negative caloric balance, you will lose weight. If you expend 500 more calories than you take in every day, you will lose about 2kg in a month.
By this logic, eating more rice would mean more calories, which would mean weight gain. So why did the article say eating rice fights obesity?
What the article did not emphasize was the above concept of caloric balance.

What it could possibly have focused more on was that eating more rice as part of your diet (versus eating more rice in general) might help fight obesity. The authors of the paper hypothesized that eating rice, as compared to eating other forms of food such as meat, would help you feel full for longer, and thus you would eat fewer calories overall. In other words, eating 500 calories worth of rice, as compared to 500 calories worth of e.g. meat, would keep you full for longer and thus you would possibly eat less. If my friend had misread this, I wonder how many more Singaporeans might have interpreted it that way as well.

Concept of Glycemic Index (GI)

On the topic of rice, another important thing to mention is the concept of Glycemic Index (GI). GI is a number assigned to carbohydrates in foods according to how they affect your blood sugar levels.
Carbohydrates with a low GI are more slowly digested, absorbed and metabolised – they cause a lower and slower rise in blood sugar. We know that spikes in sugar levels from ingesting high GI food causes your body to produce insulin in spikes as well. These insulin spikes, in the long run, can contribute to the development of diabetes.

In the National Day Rally speech of 2017, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke about how white rice has a higher Glycemic Index than brown rice, and that we should take carbohydrates with a lower GI.  In essence, taking brown rice or whole grain rice is better than white rice.

In that same speech, PM Lee also mentioned some statistics about our caloric intake. In 1998, we ate on average 2100 calories a day, which is about the right amount if you are not a very active person. Fast forward to 2010, we are taking in 2600 calories a day – a positive caloric balance of 500 calories a day. This is why the prevalence of obesity is rising in our population.

Obesity is also the largest single contributor

So why do we have to care? Obesity is a national health problem. The Singapore Burden of Diseases study found that obesity-related diseases had the largest impact on health in terms of suffering and cost. Obesity is also the largest single contributor to the national disease burden of diabetes. On the social front, obesity can affect your self-esteem and body image, causing psychological stress.
READ: Getting Heart A

ttack at a Young Age
The latest figures from the Ministry of Health (MOH) showed that in 2017, 36.2% of Singaporeans aged 18-69 were overweight. 13% of school-going children were overweight as well. A World Health Organisation (WHO) report in 2014 showed that in Singapore, we have the second highest overweight prevalence in South East Asia; Malays have the highest incidence of obesity, followed by Indians, then Chinese.
Obesity is a key contributor to a group of conditions known as metabolic syndrome. It includes conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. With these chronic conditions, people are predisposed to developing many other diseases including ischaemic heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and peripheral vascular disease. It is important to note that you should go for your regular health screenings for conditions of metabolic syndrome. They can be easily picked up by your doctor. If you feel you need help in losing weight, speak to your doctor about it too.

So how can we lose weight then?

In summary, you need a caloric deficit. You can increase your caloric deficit by dieting (eating smaller portions) and eating healthier.
You can also increase your physical activity and thus energy expenditure. Inferring from the newspaper article, you could also swap out that piece of steak for some rice. Preferably brown.

Eat Well.

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How to Quit Smoking – Smoking Cessation in Singapore

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“Tobacco is the legal product which, used in moderation and exactly as the manufacturer intended, causes harm to the consumer.” – Federation of European Cancer Societies

Smoking is bad for you. I think that fact has been scientifically proven beyond the shadow of a doubt. Even people who continue to smoke realize this. Smoking damages the lungs. In fact, it can damage the lungs permanently. This is called emphysema. Once a person develops emphysema he will have it forever even if he stops smoking. Smoking greatly increases the risk of developing strokes and heart attacks. Smoking greatly increases the risk of developing not only lung cancer but also a variety of other cancers like stomach cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.
Smoking not only harms the smoker. It has also been proven beyond a doubt that second-hand smoke damages health as much as actual smoking. According to the World Health Organisation every year almost 1 million people die as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke.
But to quit smoking is hard. This is due to the highly addictive nature of nicotine and also the fact that smokers get used to the ritual and social aspects of smoking. So while it is easy for non-smokers to say “Why is it so hard? It harms you and your family. It is expensive. It stinks! Why don’t you just stop?!” They, unfortunately, do not take into account the addictive nature of smoking. It is also difficult for non-smokers to empathize with smokers partly contributed by our health authorities’ extremely effective campaign to denormalize smoking in Singapore.
Also Read: Why Can’t Singapore Just Ban Cigarettes?
Also Read: Tobacco Past & Present

 

How to Quit Smoking (Smoking Cessation)?

It is difficult to get a smoker to quit smoking. In fact, most of them do not even think about it. So when a smoker is contemplating quitting smoking or better yet, has made the decision to want to quit, it is imperative to provide them with as much support as we can. Here in Singapore, there are multiple avenues to access such support.

If you are a friend or family of someone who is trying to quit smoking, learn more about what you can do for them by downloading this easy to read e-guide published by Singapore’s Health Promotion Board.

If you are a smoker reading this and have decided you want to quit, there are many ways you can reach out for support.

1) Join the I Quit Program

I Quit is Singapore’s National Smoking Cessation Program. It provides support for smokers who have the intention to quit smoking. There are many ways to sign up for the I Quit program. The easiest way is probably filling up an online form. I Quit is currently running a program that aims to get smokers to stop smoking in 28 days.
Smokers intending to quit have access to free counselling from trained and certified smoking cessation counsellors just by picking up the phone and calling the I Quit hotline known as Quitline. In fact, while signing up for the program, smokers can opt to have counsellors from Quitline call them instead.
Also, smokers on this program will receive daily SMS to keep them motivated to refrain from smoking. Smokers can also go online to the Health Promotion Board’s website and download self-help material like the Quit Fix Booklet and the I Quit Calendar. There is also community support that smokers intending to quit can reach out to via a Facebook Group known as the I Quit Club.
Just to add a little cherry on top of the Sundae, smokers who manage to remain smoke-free for 28 days will receive a $50 voucher from HPB. If he can remain smoke-free for 3 months, he will receive an additional $30 voucher. If he can make it to 6 months smoke-free there is yet another $20 voucher to be had.

Go down to I Quit Roadshow

Singapore’s Health Promotion Board holds regular smoking cessation roadshows. Go down to any of these road shows to see what they have to offer. You can sign up for a smoking cessation program on the spot.
Details on upcoming roadshows can be found in the I Quit Club page on Facebook.

2) Speak to a Pharmacist

Go to any retail pharmacy like Guardian or Watsons or Unity. Pharmacists are trained to provide smoking cessation counselling. They can also counsel you on the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy. If the pharmacist feels that you require more intensive behavioural therapy or counselling or that you need to see a Doctor, they can point you in the right direction.

3) See a Doctor

See your friendly neighbourhood GP. Or visit your nearest polyclinic. Or if you are already seeing a Doctor for some other unrelated medical issues, you can always mention to him during your next follow up visit that you wish to get some help to quit smoking. Believe me, your Doctor will be thrilled and will be most eager to help you.
This is arguably the easiest way to go about it. Most Doctors are knowledgeable in smoking cessation and can counsel you on what you need. Be it accessing the national smoking cessation program known as I Quit, or referring you to a trained and certified smoking cessation counsellor or even prescribing you medicines or nicotine replacement therapy to help you quit smoking.
There are 3 so-called “pharmaceutical aids” to help you quit smoking.
The most well known is probably NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy). This helps smokers reduce their cravings and side effects of quitting by supplying their bodies with nicotine. It usually comes in the form of chewing gum or lozenge. They are usually taken for a duration of 2 to 3 months.
The 2 other pharmaceutical aids are tablets. One is Bupropion (Zyban) and the other is Varenicline (Champix). Both of these are tablets and can have potential side effects. They are usually taken for 3 months. They help to reduce cravings by activating certain chemicals in the brain. Please discuss with your Doctor if you can benefit from these.

The MOST important thing to remember is that these pharmaceutical aids work much better with behavioural intervention. In other words, do not just take the medicines. You still have to have a quit plan in place. You still have to keep yourself motivated. You still have to receive daily reminders and support to quit. You will still benefit from talking to a smoking cessation counsellor.

Be Strong. Take Care.

 

What are the Causes of Swimmer’s Ear or Outer Ear Infection?

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(OTITIS EXTERNA aka Swimmer’s ear or Outer Ear Infection)
The external ear canal is the part of the ear that connects the outer ear to the eardrum. This outer ear infection takes place in the external ear canal and usually presents a sudden painful condition usually caused by bacterial infection, inflammation or sometimes fungal infection.
People who are predisposed to outer ear infection includes the young and adolescent group, people with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, and people with excessive ear wax production.

The natural defence mechanism of the ear canal

  • The narrow ear canal serve to reduce entry of contaminants
  • The sticky nature of the ear wax helps to maintain a harsh environment for bacteria, helping to trap fine debris and also repel water.

 

What are the Causes of Swimmer’s Ears or Outer Ear Infection?

A moist ear canal can serve as a reservoir for bacterial (most common cause) or fungal infection to seed on.
Other factors that contribute to outer ear infection:

  • Exposure to contaminated water, swimming pool or hot tubs
  • Contact with allergic or corrosive chemicals such as hair dye or spray
  • Excessive ear canal cleaning with cotton buds
  • Skin barrier impairment over the ear canal secondary to eczema/ psoriasis or abrasions secondary to scratching
  • Using ear canal devices such as earphones, hearing aids, diving caps
  • Complication from water irrigation during ear wax removal procedures

Concurrent infection which causes inflammation and swelling of the skin. This leads to obstruction, itch and scratching of the ear canal which will create further injury, thus worsening the condition.
 

What are the Signs and symptoms of Swimmer’s Ears or Outer Ear Infection?

  • Ear pain
  • Itch
  • Discharges from ear
  • The feeling of blocked ear
  • Reduced hearing

 

What are the treatments for Swimmer’s Ears or Outer Ear Infection?

The treatment goal is to control pain and treat the infection.

  • Careful cleaning of the ear canal using specialized equipment
  • Eardrops to reduce inflammation and hinder the growth of bacteria and fungus

With the removal of debris in the ear, this will facilitate the absorption of ear drops in the ear canal.
In addition, the doctor can place a sponge or wick in the canal if it is swollen. This will increase the delivery of ear drops into the ear canal.

How to take care of your ears?
It is important to avoid the ear canal from getting wet during treatment. Extra precautions should be taken while showering. Avoid swimming 7-10 days during infection is of great importance.
 
If you swim regularly, consider

  • Shake your ears dry after swimming
  • Blow dry the ears with low setting dryer held from a distance away
  • Use earplugs during swimming

 
Are there any Follow-ups?
A patient needs to be follow up 36-48 hours after treatment initiation to monitor symptoms. Sometimes, the ear may need cleansing again using specialized equipment by a doctor in addition to the installation of ear drops.

Most external ear infection improves within 7-10 days.

If you think you have outer ear infection, please speak to any of our friendly doctors at any of our clinics to discuss further, or drop us an email at hello@dtapclinic.com.sg