It’s not always easy to make healthy decisions. Usually our reluctance can be conquered if we remind ourselves what is good for us. But what if some of the things you’ve been doing for your health are damaging your hearing? It’s more likely than you’d believe.
Your Hygiene Program
You care about the way you look to others when out and about. Combing your hair, brushing your teeth, and sometimes cleaning your ears is, for most, a normal practice.
It can be bothersome when a small trickle of earwax builds up over time. Despite earwax having numerous imperative purposes in your ear, it does have to be eliminated from time to time. The risk of hearing damage doesn’t come from eliminating the earwax, but instead, from the tool you use to get rid of it.
If you are using cotton swabs you should stop as these are not the proper tool for the job. Eliminating your earwax with a cotton swab can cause irreparable harm to your ears and hearing. Instead, see a hearing healthcare expert and ask for advice. It’s a basic and simple procedure for them to get rid of the wax and you can rest assured that your hearing is safe.
Your Exercise Habits
Part of looking good is feeling good, and what better way to do that than to stay in shape? The benefits of working out are that it gets your blood flowing, clears your mind, helps you lose weight, and relaxes your muscles. But workouts conducted improperly are the problem.
Physical fitness trends are moving toward high-impact workouts that test your stamina. Participating in these kinds of workouts, while building muscle, may also be harming your ears. You might not even notice it at first, but that strain can cause pressure to build up in your ears. The result? Balance and hearing concerns.
This doesn’t mean quitting your workouts is the right answer. Improper workout methods can lead to trouble. Avoid strain and don’t hold your breath while working out. When your limit has been reached, quit.
Your Prospering Career
Having a successful career often means having a lot of stress. While everyone can agree that working hard and achieving professional success is a great thing, research shows that the pressure that accompanies it can be damaging to your health.
Stress has been known to cause weight gain, impaired thinking, and muscle pain, but did you know it can also cause hearing loss? Poor circulation caused by strain is actually the issue. Poor circulation means that very important parts of your body, like the delicate hairs in your ears, don’t get the supply of blood and oxygen they need. When the hairs in your ear die, they won’t grow back. Why are these little hairs important? Your brain uses them to hear. So without them you may not hear.
However, you can keep your career and your hearing. Simple tactics for reducing strain can be used to keep the blood flowing. If you’re finding yourself stressed out, take a break. Reading or watching something funny is helpful. Humor is a natural strain relief.
Enjoying the Arts
Exposing your mind to all forms of art is a healthy practice. But different forms of art have different levels of impact on hearing.
Going to the movies or attending a live music event is louder than you may think. While enjoying our favorite art form we we usually don’t worry about whether it is damaging our hearing. Unfortunately it may possibly be.
The solution to this one is easy. If you’re planning to attend a potentially loud event, grab some ear defense. While you wouldn’t wear large earmuffs at an opera, you might use small discreet in-ear noise reduction devices instead.
Like with anything else, being informed and prepared will help to protect. If you fear that participation in a high volume activity has already damaged your hearing, you should schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist. Only then will you know for sure.