The drums are rolling, the yee sang is ready to be tossed, and the red packets are packed. Welcome to the Year of the Fire Horse (Bing Wu)!

According to the lunar calendar, we officially gallop into this new year on February 17, 2026. If you follow the zodiac, you know the Horse is famous for speed, high energy, and independence. But this year, the added Fire element makes it a year predicted to be intense, fast-paced, and passionate.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Fire element rules the Heart and often manifests as “internal heat”. But as an ENT surgeon, I interpret the “Fire Horse” energy a little differently:

• Speed means rushing through reunion dinners (danger: fish bones!).
• Fire means inflammation—sore throats, “heatiness,” and reflux.
• Loudness means acoustic trauma from firecrackers.

Before you Balik Kampung or start your reunion dinner, read this guide to protect your Ear, Nose, and Throat health so you can enjoy the festivities without an emergency trip to the clinic.

1. The “Fire Horse” Speed vs. The Fish Bone

The Year of the Horse is all about momentum. But when it comes to eating, slow down.

Fish bone ingestion is the #1 ENT emergency during Chinese New Year in Malaysia and Singapore. We see a massive spike in cases every year. Why? Because we talk, laugh, and eat simultaneously, often rushing to the next house visit.

The “Wolf” in Sheep’s Clothing

Be particularly careful with Wolf Herring (Ikan Parang). It is delicious and often used to make high-quality fish balls (Sai To) or served steamed. However, this fish is notorious for fine, Y-shaped intermuscular bones that are:

• Invisible to the naked eye.
• Hard to feel until they are stuck.
• Translucent on X-rays (making them hard to find without a scope).

STOP! Don’t Do This:

If you or your child swallows a bone, you will hear advice from every auntie at the table. Please, for the sake of your throat, ignore these two myths:

• ❌ Myth: “Swallow a ball of sticky rice or banana.”
  • Medical Reality: This acts like a piston. If the bone is sharp, the force of the rice drives it deeper into the delicate tissue of your tonsils. Worse, it can push the bone into the esophagus (food pipe), which can lead to life-threatening complications.
• ❌ Myth: “Drink vinegar to dissolve it.”
  • Medical Reality: Vinegar is a weak acid. It would take days to dissolve a bone. In the few seconds it takes to swallow, it will do nothing but burn your already inflamed throat.

DO This Instead:

1. Stop eating immediately.
2. Look: Use a torchlight. If the bone is visible in the tonsil, you might be able to gently remove it.
3. Seek Help: If you feel sharp pain with every swallow (odynophagia), come to the clinic. We use a nasoendoscope(a tiny, flexible camera) to locate and retrieve the bone in under a minute. No pain, and you can go back to your dinner (carefully!).

2. Protecting Your Ears from the “Roar”

A Fire Horse year is loud. Firecrackers and Lion Dance troupes are essential for chasing away bad luck (and the Nianmonster), but they can generate noise levels exceeding 120-140 decibels.

To put that in perspective:

• Lawn Mower: 90 dB
• Jet Engine: 140 dB
• Pain Threshold: 130 dB

Exposure to this level of impulse noise can cause Acoustic Trauma. This isn’t just “ringing in the ears” (Tinnitus); it causes mechanical shearing of the hair cells in your inner ear. Once these cells die, they do not grow back.

The Strategy:

• The 3-Meter Rule: Sound energy drops significantly with distance. Standing just 3 to 5 meters back from the drums can reduce the intensity by half.
• Cover Up: If you have children, cover their ears. Their ear canals are smaller, creating a resonance effect that amplifies high-frequency sounds.

3. The Truth About “Yeet Hay” (Heatiness)

“Doctor, I’m very heaty.”

I hear this every day during CNY. You feel a sore throat, sticky phlegm, and perhaps a bit of hoarseness. TCM calls it Heatiness; Western Medicine often identifies it as Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) compounded by Dehydration.

The CNY “Acid Bomb” Diet

Consider your festive menu:

• Fatty Foods: Bak Kwa (dried meat) delays stomach emptying.
• Alcohol & Caffeine: Beer and tea relax the valve (LES) that keeps acid in your stomach.
• Late Nights: Disrupted sleep cycles increase stress hormones that boost acid production.

This combination allows stomach enzymes (pepsin) to rise up and mist your vocal cords. This “chemical burn” feels exactly like “heat.”

Dr. Julius’s “Cooling” Protocol:

• Hydrate: Water is the best cooling tea. Aim for 3 liters a day to dilute gastric enzymes.
• Sleep: The Fire Horse energy creates burnout. Prioritize sleep to lower inflammation.
• Medical Help: If you feel a lump in your throat (globus), over-the-counter alginates can help, but persistent issues need a scope to rule out other throat conditions.

4. The Smoke Factor: Incense and Allergies

Visiting the temple is a beautiful tradition. Whether it’s the Kek Lok Si in Penang or Thean Hou in KL, the atmosphere is magical. However, the density of incense smoke can trigger Acute Allergic Rhinitis.

The smoke contains particulate matter (PM2.5) that irritates the nasal lining. If you suffer from Sinusitis or Sleep Apnea, this inflammation can block your nose and worsen your sleep quality significantly.

Tip: Wear a high-quality mask (N95 or surgical) while inside the main prayer hall. It filters out the particles and reduces the allergen load.

When to See The ENT Doctor?

While we hope your Year of the Fire Horse is filled with prosperity and health, we are here if you need us. Do not ignore these “Red Flags”:

• Sharp, pinpoint throat pain that doesn’t go away after swallowing food (Fish Bone).
• Sudden loss of hearing in one ear (Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss – This is an emergency!).
• Noisy breathing (Stridor) or inability to swallow saliva.

We are located at: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, UM Specialist Centre (UMSC), Kuala Lumpur.

Wishing you a roaring, healthy, and safe Chinese New Year 2026!

Suspect a fish bone or suffering from severe sinus issues? (https://theentdr.com/contact-us/)

4. Internal & External Linking Strategy

• To learn more on throat conditions 
• To Learn more on Sleep Apnea.
• To Learn more on “Dr. Julius Goh Liang Chye” .