HEALTH

Open your mouth and say, “Aahh!” When you’re young, tonsils protect the airway during swallowing and digestion. “As you get older, the tonsil tissues shrink up and become very small—even disappear. They serve no purpose,” says Dr. Philip Scheinberg, an ear, nose and throat specialist. “In some individuals, the tissues remain and trap bacteria that causes strep throat and tonsillitis.” The throat becomes a source of infection, even placing your heart and kidneys at risk. In those cases, Dr. Scheinberg says, the tonsils must be removed—a tonsillectomy, which is an outpatient procedure. Sore throats are common the week after a tonsillectomy but, otherwise, it’s a simple recovery. “After the surgery, your throat infections will disappear,” says Dr. Scheinberg. And you get to feast on all the popsicles you want.

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