


November 5, 2013 > Why Does My Body Do These Odd Things?

Why Does My Body Do These Odd Things?


Have you ever wondered why your body does some of the things it does? Why do you cough or sneeze? What is the purpose of mucous? What actually happens when food Ògoes down the wrong tube?Ó
ÒOur bodies have a lot of common actions that are a mystery to people,Ó said Dr. Dale Amanda Tylor, a pediatric otolaryngologist with Washington Township Medical Foundation and a member of the medical staff at Washington Hospital. ÒWe all get coughs and colds, we all produce mucous, but why do these actions happen and what can we do about them? I think helping people understand how their bodies work will also help people know how to deal with some of these things and when itÕs serious enough to consult a physician.Ó
She will talk about these and other body functions at an upcoming lecture titled ÒWhy Does My Body Do These Odd Things?Ó scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, from 7 to 8 p.m. The talk is part of Washington HospitalÕs Evening Lecture Series and will be held at the Washington WomenÕs Center Conference Room, located in Suite 145, at 2500 Mowry Avenue (Washington West) in Fremont. To register, visit or call (800) 963-7070 for more information.
Cold or Allergy?
Dr. Tylor said an over-the-counter saline spray can help to open up your nasal passages and improve drainage. If the mucous coming out is clear or white, you probably have an allergy rather than an infection, she added. If itÕs green on the other hand, you may have an infection.
ÒI really want to encourage people to use the saline spray first before grabbing an over-the-counter cold medicine or asking your doctor for antibiotics,Ó Dr. Tylor said. ÒAntibiotics only work on bacterial infections and too much antibiotic use can create drug-resistant bacteria.Ó
Cover Your Mouth and Nose
Take the same precautions as a cough to avoid spreading germs, she said. Blowing your nose frequently can help to reduce the amount of sneezing you do because it reduces the bodyÕs need to release the irritants.
Dr. Tylor will also talk about bodily functions that arenÕt necessarily related to colds and allergies. For example, what happens when food or liquid goes down the wrong pipe? What does that mean?
ÒWhen food or liquid goes down the wind pipe, or trachea, it is called aspiration and it can be deadly,Ó she said. ÒItÕs the key reason we have to watch toddlers closely when they start eating solid food.Ó
ÒOur bodies are complicated machines,Ó she added. ÒIt helps to know how and why they work so you can take better care of your own body.Ó
Why Does My Body do These Odd Things? ? TCV November 5, 2013 ? Caitlin Kerk ? 408.972.5781 ? Page 2 of 2

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