Health briefs: Cotton swabs and eardrums

A new study has found a direct association between using cotton swabs to clean the ears and ruptured eardrums, although in 97 percent of the cases, the eardrums healed without surgery, researchers pointed out. More than half of the people who visit ear, throat and nose specialists confess to using swabs to clean their ears. The practice can be damaging if people push the swabs in too far, which also can lead to tinnitus and, in severe cases, to vertigo and facial paralysis.

Power can lead to cheating

Women in powerful positions are just as likely as men to cheat on their spouses, according to new research. Power appears to be a more important factor than gender, according to the study published April 28 in the journal Psychological Science. Researchers analyzed responses from 1,561 people who took part in an anonymous online survey. They were asked about their amount of power at work, confidence levels and perception of risks associated with infidelity. The survey revealed there is a strong link between power and confidence. The amount of confidence seems the strongest connection between power and cheating. Additionally, the gender of powerful people made no difference in past infidelity or their desire to be unfaithful.

-- HealthDay