The unpalatable, gooey and much-hated substance we often rush to clean out of our ears is gaining unexpected scientific attention. Earwax—also known as cerumen—has long been considered an annoying by-product of the body. While its primary purpose remains debated, researchers now agree that earwax plays a vital role in protecting our ears and, intriguingly, may hold the key to unlocking critical insights into our health.

Functionally, earwax acts as a natural barrier. It traps bacteria, fungi, dirt, and other particles before they can enter and infect the inner ear. It also provides lubrication, preventing the skin inside the ear canal from becoming dry or itchy. Yet, due to its unappealing look and lack of immediate clinical relevance, earwax has been largely ignored in scientific research—until recently.

Women With Wet Earwax Have Higher Chances Of Breast Cancer

A growing body of evidence suggests that earwax may be far more informative than previously believed. In 2014, a study published in Springer highlighted a fascinating genetic dimension to earwax. The study revealed that most people of European or African descent have "wet" earwax—sticky and yellow or orange in colour. Meanwhile, 95% of East Asians have "dry" earwax—gray and crumbly. The difference is determined by a gene called ABCC11, which also influences underarm odour. In fact, about 2% of the global population, mostly individuals with dry earwax, carry a variant of this gene that causes their armpits to be odorless.

Beyond genetics, earwax has started to emerge as a diagnostic tool. Researchers are using modern analytical techniques to examine the chemical and biological compounds in earwax, searching for indicators of disease. For example, a pioneering study in 1971 by Dr. Nicholas L. Petrakis at the University of California, San Francisco, observed that Caucasian, African-American, and German women in the U.S. with wet earwax had nearly four times the risk of breast cancer compared to Japanese or Taiwanese women with dry earwax.

Building on this, a 2010 study by the Tokyo Institute of Technology examined blood samples from 270 Japanese women with invasive breast cancer and compared them to 273 healthy controls. They found a strong correlation between the presence of the wet earwax gene and the incidence of breast cancer. Women with the gene were up to 77% more likely to develop the disease, suggesting a genetic link that could help in early risk assessment.

Earwax May Also Contain Traces Of COVID-19

Recent studies are also exploring whether earwax can contain traces of COVID-19 and help differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Some early research even hints that biomarkers in earwax could aid in identifying certain heart diseases, although these findings are still in preliminary stages, and blood tests remain the gold standard for diagnosis.

Another promising area involves Meniere’s disease, a chronic condition that causes episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Researchers are investigating whether compounds in earwax can help track this inner ear disorder more reliably and less invasively than current methods.

Health experts are raising alarms as H5N1 bird flu spreads rapidly across US dairy farms. Since March 2024, over 1,000 dairy herds have been affected across the country, leading to over 70 infections and at least one confirmed death. H5N1 is a strain of the influenza virus that primarily infects birds, but can also infect humans.

Global Virus Network (GVN) warns that a continued presence of this virus in mammals increases the risk of mutations that could be human-to-human transmission. They emphasise the urgency of the enhanced surveillance, standardising testing and vaccination strategies for both animals and farmworkers. "Understanding the current landscape of H5N1 infections is critical for effective prevention and response," said Sten H Vermund, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of the GVN and dean of the USF Health College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, USA. "The virus's ability to infect both animals and humans, combined with recent genetic changes, underscores the importance of proactive surveillance and rapid response measures," he added.

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CDC Asks Residents To Follow Precautions

Despite the outbreak, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk to the general public remains low.

However, they stress the importance of precautions, especially for those in close contact with infected animals. As per the CDC, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu is widespread in birds and is causing outbreaks in poultry and US dairy cows. While the current public health risk is low, the CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures. CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity in people.

What To Do To Protect Yourself

• As a general precaution, whenever possible, people should avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, dairy cows and other animals and observe them only from a distance.
• If you must have direct/close contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or other animals, wear recommended personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Do not touch surfaces or materials (e.g., animal litter or bedding material) contaminated with saliva, mucus, or animal feces from wild or domestic birds, dairy cows, or other animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza A virus infection.
• Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products, especially from animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza A virus infection or in areas known to have infected herds.

ALSO READ: New Pandemic 2025: Bird Flu Spreads Across Dairy Farms In All 50 States

What Do You Do When You Find A Dead Animal Or Bird?

• If you find a sick or dead wild bird or other animal
• First, check with your local and State governments about their policies for collecting dead and testing sick or dead animals.
• You can contact health departments or state wildlife agencies for information about reporting animals that look sick or dead in your area.
• People should avoid unprotected (not using respiratory and eye protection) exposures to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals.
• Wildlife agencies regularly investigate reports of sick or dead animals. This type of reporting could help with the early detection of illnesses like West Nile virus or H5N1 bird flu.
• If local authorities tell you to throw away the bird's carcass (body), don't touch it with your bare hands. Use gloves or a plastic bag turned inside out to place the body in a garbage bag, which can then be thrown away in your regular trash.

A new generation of oral weight loss medications could transform the fight against obesity and diabetes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), health experts say. In almost all high-income countries like the UK, injectable drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, containing semaglutide and tirzepatide, respectively, have proven highly effective. These medications not only aid in losing more than 10% of body weight but also help manage type 2 diabetes. However, their high cost, need for refrigeration, and injectable format have limited their accessibility in resource-limited settings.

Now, researchers believe that oral medications under development could be a game-changer. These pills are expected to be cheaper, easier to transport, and not require refrigeration, making them far more practical in LMICs where obesity and diabetes are rising rapidly.

"Medicines that reduce diabetes and heart disease risk—while also helping with weight loss—could offer significant benefits in countries where waistlines are expanding fast,” said Professor Naveed Sattar, a cardiometabolic medicine expert at the University of Glasgow.

Dr Louis Aronne, an obesity medicine specialist at Weill Cornell Medical College, echoed the optimism. “We’re moving towards a future where doctors will treat obesity before it leads to complications,” he said. His recent research showed that tirzepatide reduced the risk of developing diabetes by more than 90% in people with pre-diabetes and obesity over a three-year period.

One oral drug gaining attention is orforglipron, a once-daily pill developed by Eli Lilly. Like semaglutide, orforglipron mimics GLP-1, a hormone that boosts insulin production and helps people feel full longer. A recent 40-week clinical trial found that orforglipron lowered blood sugar levels and promoted weight loss on par with injectable semaglutide.

While semaglutide is already available in pill form, it requires a higher dose to match the injectable version's results. It must also be taken on an empty stomach, with no food for at least 30 minutes afterward. Orforglipron, being a small molecule, resists digestion and can be taken with food—potentially at a lower dose and cost.

Experts caution that more studies are needed. Orforglipron’s safety profile must be thoroughly evaluated, especially after Pfizer halted development of a similar drug due to potential liver toxicity. It’s also not yet clear if orforglipron reduces cardiovascular risks like heart attacks and strokes, benefits that have been observed with semaglutide.

Nevertheless, scientists are hopeful. “Once obesity is established, diet alone isn’t enough for most people,” said Aronne. “Medication becomes essential, especially since obesity alters brain function related to appetite and metabolism.”

Addressing obesity is especially urgent in ethnically diverse populations. “South Asians, Black individuals, and other groups develop type 2 diabetes at lower weight thresholds," Sattar noted. “Even small increases in obesity in these populations can lead to significant surges in diabetes rates.”

Sattar concluded, "The more safe, effective, and affordable weight loss medications we have—especially in oral form—the better the chances of improving global health."

Modifiable risk factors such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and eating a balanced diet can certainly help protect your heart. However, when it comes to heart disease, the role of family history also deserves serious attention. In other words, are cardiovascular heart diseases (CHD) hereditary? And if so, what can be done to lower your risk?

Genetics account for up to half of a person's risk for cardiovascular disease. While it is only one among many contributing factors, it can be a significant—and often early—clue to a person’s potential for heart-related issues. Having close relatives like a parent or sibling with heart disease can increase the chances of developing a heart condition. Shared environmental factors within families, such as dietary habits and levels of physical activity, also influence heart health.

Learning about family history can empower individuals to take charge of their healthcare. This knowledge allows potential health concerns to be identified before a serious event occurs and helps prevent disease progression. Identifying a genetic diagnosis within the family enables both patients and healthcare providers to stay current on recommended screenings and treatments.

Heart Diseases Are Often A Mix Of Genes And Environment

Heart disease is often a combination of genetic and environmental influences. In certain cases, a gene may be passed down from one or both parents. If a parent carries a specific heart disease gene, there is a 50 per cent chance it could be inherited. Thus, parents can offer insight into potential future risks from a genetic standpoint.

Knowing family history helps clinicians assess whether a patient is at higher-than-average risk. It’s not just about anticipating what might happen—screenings and treatments based on genetic risk can offer more proactive management.

Certain Heart Diseases Can Be Inherited

Several types of heart conditions can be inherited. These include coronary heart disease (blockages in arteries supplying the heart), congenital heart disease (a defect present at birth), cardiomyopathy (abnormal heart function without obvious cause), high cholesterol (which raises plaque risk), arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms), and dilated aorta (an enlarged major blood vessel).

Although family history cannot be changed, modifiable risk factors can still be addressed. High cholesterol or blood pressure often shows up in families around the same age, but making lifestyle changes early can help. A low-fat, low-cholesterol, and low-sugar diet, along with at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week, can help mitigate risk. Working with a cardiologist can help determine whether lifestyle changes or early medication are needed.

Collecting family history includes asking relatives about medications, diagnoses of high cholesterol or blood pressure, cardiac conditions, sudden or unexplained deaths, use of pacemakers or defibrillators, and whether anyone sees a cardiologist or has had heart surgery.

After gathering this information, a physician can recommend genetic testing if necessary. Certain patterns, like multiple relatives with early heart attacks or high cholesterol, may point to inherited conditions such as familial hypercholesterolemia. Even in the absence of family history, conditions like aortopathy may qualify someone for genetic testing.

Genetic testing typically starts with a three-generation family history and involves either a saliva or blood sample. Results may be positive, negative, or uncertain. Even a negative result doesn’t rule out a hereditary component, so follow-ups and testing for other family members may still be recommended.

Moreover, positive results may lead to cascade testing—where relatives are tested for the same condition—and can influence treatment strategies. Precision medicine and gene therapy now offer the possibility of correcting genetic defects at a molecular level, offering new hope for those at risk.