Monica Kieu, DO, FACS
Board Certified Otolaryngologist
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Co-authored Articles (17)
16 Ways to Clear Nasal Congestion
When you have a cold or when your allergies are acting up, we know you're looking for any way to get rid of the nasal congestion that comes along with it. The inside of your nose swells up when it's irritated and gives y...
How to
Clear Your Sinuses and Ears
Your sinuses and ears are connected by way of your Eustachian tubes. So, if they get clogged or inflamed, then you can feel awful pressure and congestion in both of them at the same time. Fortunately, there are things yo...
How to
Heal a Ruptured Eardrum
The eardrum is fairly fragile, and trauma to the ear can cause the eardrum to tear, which is known as a ruptured or perforated eardrum. They're more common in children who develop middle ear infections, though they have ...
How to Safely Remove Stubborn Earwax at Home
Clear blockages and relieve pressure with these proven DIY remedies Earwax is a natural substance that helps protect the ear and ear canal, but sometimes a little too much of it can make for an unpleasant time. If you’...
How to
Blow Your Nose
Even though it’s instinctual to blow your nose when it’s clogged, it can actually do more harm than good if done incorrectly. Blowing your nose too hard can inflame the blood vessels in your nose or lead to a sinus i...
How to
Insert a Nasal Cannula
If you have to use supplemental oxygen, a nasal cannula fits into your nose to deliver the oxygen into your system, which means you won't have to wear a bulky mask. If you choose the correct size and insert the cannula p...
How to Remove an Object from Your Ear Fast (Plus When to Seek Medical Care)
Medically-verified ways to get something deep out of your ear Have something stuck in your ear? While this is a common problem for toddlers and children, it can happen at any age. Having a foreign object stuck in your ea...
How to
Remove a Bug from Your Ear
A bug in an ear can be quite scary. Bugs, such as moths, cockroaches, ladybugs, and beetles, can crawl into ears while you sleep or during outdoor activities. Entomologists suspect that bugs crawl into ear canals to kee...
The Best Ways to Loosen and Unclog Ear Wax: Massage, Home Remedies, & More
Ear wax is part of our body’s natural defense system—but what happens when there’s too much of it? Stubborn ear wax can be annoying, and in some cases, can even affect your hearing. That’s why in this article, we...
How to
Stop Mouth Breathing
Some people breathe through their mouth because there’s an issue with their nose that makes nose breathing harder. For other people, mouth breathing is just a habit. Either way, it’s totally possible to stop breathin...
How to
Unclog a Clogged Ear
Earwax is a common and natural cause of clogged ears, ear infections, swimmers ear and many other things. There are different ways of unclogging a clogged ear, but it depends on what part of the ear is clogged: outer, mi...
How to
Relieve Ear Congestion
Ear congestion often feels like pressure inside your ear, which may be accompanied by pain, dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and minor hearing loss. Ear congestion can result from a cold, allergies, or a sinus ...
6 Ways to Thin Nasal Mucus at Home & When to See a Doctor
Clear nasal congestion quickly with these simple home remedies A stuffy or congested nose can really put a damper on your day. While thick nasal mucus can be a symptom of many illnesses, you don’t have to live with a c...
How to
Treat an Outer Ear Infection
An outer ear infection, also called "swimmer's ear," most often occurs in teens or young adults who spend long or repeated periods of time in water, usually when diving or swimming. However, adults are also susceptible t...
How to
Clean Behind Your Ears
You might not think about it often, but washing behind your ears is an important part of staying clean. Washing prevents waxy deposits from building up and crusting behind your ears, and keeps oils from your hairline fro...
How to
Improve Your Breathing
Breathing is something that we do so often, we might not always give it the proper attention we should. If there are some difficulties with your breathing, there are a few steps you can take improve the quality of both ...
How to
Treat a Nasal Tear
A nasal tear, also known as a nasal septum perforation, is when a hole forms in your septum. This condition can be caused by excessive nose picking, the overuse of nasal sprays and decongestants, exposure to certain chem...