While taking good care of yourself is essential, one body part that people most often ignore taking care of is their ears. With the ever-increasing noise pollution, your ears suffer the most.
Since most people have become accustomed to the modern living, they tend to turn a blind eye to the repercussions of the ear issues. However, little do they know that loud noise affects their ears and may lead to serious problems like permanent hearing loss.
Studies show that 1 out of 5 people in Texas experience hearing problems. And, this seems to be increasing at an alarming rate.
Now that you’re inquisitive, know that there are some factors that lead to hearing loss. Some of these include:
● Aging
● Illnesses like diabetes, osteoporosis
● Heredity
● Loud noise
● Occupational noises
● Medications, and more.
However, if you are suffering from hearing issues and don’t know where to start, fear not! Here we will discuss some of the best ways to protect your ears and ensure healthy hearing.
1. Know Your Risks
A regular ear checkup is crucial. Hearing issues develop gradually as you age. Therefore, consulting ENT doctors at Texas ENT Specialists can be your wise move. The ENT doctors will identify your problems and prevent them before the symptoms get worse. That way, you’ll be more likely to recognize signs of hearing loss and take action immediately. After all, prevention is better than cure.
Hearing issues, if left untreated, may cause severe health issues, such as depression, dementia, and heart diseases.
2. Avoid Using Cotton Swabs
Most people prefer to use a cotton swab to clean wax out of their ears. However, using cotton swabs is not advisable by doctors in Texas. Inserting anything inside your ear canals can damage your eardrum.
In severe cases, the cotton swab can damage many sensitive structures behind the ear canal and cause complete deafness, loss of taste function, and even facial paralysis.
However, if you have excess wax in your ears, it is advisable to use ear drops 3-4 times a day. These eardrops dissolve the ear wax and reduce the sensation of pain. Alternatively, you can also clean around the canal with a damp towel gently.
3. Wear Protective Hearing Gear
Exposure to loud noise can wreak havoc on your hearing ability. Therefore, make it a habit to wear protective hearing gear in a noisy environment. It is wise to invest in custom earplugs for people who are regularly exposed to noise. Or, you can consider wearing earplugs in a loud environment, such as:
● Rock concerts
● Construction sites
● Noisy workplaces
● Auto racing
● Hunting or shooting
Medical experts suggest wearing earplugs as they act as a barrier that limits the amount of sound absorbed by your ears.
4. Keep Your Ears Dry
When excess moisture enters your ears, it allows bacteria to attack and damage your ear canal. This can cause a swimmer’s ear, which can be dangerous for your hearing ability. Therefore, it is imperative to dry your ears after bathing or swimming.
However, if you still feel some water in your ears, tilt your head to the side and tug lightly on the ear lobe to coax the water out.
Wrapping Up
Managing stress and giving your ears a break are some other measures to undertake to prevent your ear from diseases.
To sum it up, the tips mentioned above promise to protect your ears and ensure healthy hearing.
