What Are The Different Ways To Take Care Of Your Ears?

You do not know the value of things until you lose them, especially when it comes to your senses. Hearing is such a sense we human beings are gifted with but we don’t realize how important our ears and hearing capabilities are until we lose them.

Usually, we don’t give much attention to silly issues concerning our ears and that is an important reason why the majority of the hearing issues are left unnoticed.

What Are The Different Ways To Take Care Of Your Ears?

But these silly unnoticed issues can lead to many problems including hearing loss or deafness. This is why it is very important to take care of ears. Let us go through the different ways to care for your ears.

Ways to Take Care of Your Ears

There are many ways to protect your ears from getting damaged. These include but not limited to;

• Use earplugs.

Sometimes you have to be in a situation where you can’t avoid loud noises as if you are in a leisure or working environment.

High-frequency sounds from stereos or speakers, equipment like drilling machines, or any other working tools are very disturbing to the ears. In such situations, you can wear earplugs to protect the ears from damage as the chances of hearing loss are high after a particular period of continuously hearing these kinds of sounds. You can also have custom-fitted earplugs from your local medical. 

The musician’s earplugs you use for music are customized in a way to hear a voice while calls. It also reduces harmful sound levels and maintains high-quality original sound.

• Safe use of audio devices.

Almost 1.1 billion population including teenagers and young adults are on the verge of noise-induced hearing loss due to improper use of audio devices like headphones or earbuds, as per the records of WHO (World Health Organisation). 

We can’t stop anyone from listening to music but we can use safety measures like 60/60 rules, which means using the headphones for not more than 60 minutes and with no more than 60% volume. Earbuds are not safe as it is fit directly to the eardrum so it is better to opt for over-the-ear headphones. 

• Reduce the use of cotton swabs.

Cleaning the ear wax using cotton swabs is a common practice everywhere but this is not at all healthy for your ears. There is no danger in having a little earwax in your ear canal because this is what prevents the dust particles and dust from entering the ear.

Also, the ear is an organ that is capable of cleansing the ear. Another thing is that poking with anything inside the ear can damage sensitive parts like the eardrum.

If you have more ear wax, there are alternative ways like using a damp towel around the canal and using an earwax removal solution, which can soften the wax resulting in flowing out on its own.

However, for better information regarding ear wax issues consult an ENT specialist or any other physicians which is more safe and preferable.

• Avoid taking ototoxic medications or chemicals unnecessarily.

Certain medications including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), quinine, chloroquine, and medications for cancer are capable to damage the ear, thereby contributing to hearing loss. 

To avoid such situations, it is very necessary to consult a doctor if you experience any kind of side effects or in case of any concern. If you are working with close exposure to such chemicals, take necessary precautions after consulting your doctor.

• Take proper vaccinations.

Diseases like mumps, measles, rubella can affect the ear in a dangerous manner which can cause infections in the ear and even hearing impairment. Some kinds of bacterial infections like meningitis and syphilis can also attack the ears.

Immunise children and get vaccinated at the earliest as suggested in the medical records and seek medical attention if you experience any symptoms.

• Do exercise.

Don’t get confused, we are still talking about the ears. Regular physical activities such as walking, jogging, cycling, and other cardiovascular exercises can facilitate blood circulation to all parts of the body including the ears. This can help all the internal parts of the ear work properly with their maximum potential.

Always use a helmet while cycling because if you fall down and hit some part of your head, that can become a serious issue contributing to hearing loss.

• Keep ears dry.

It doesn’t mean avoid washing your ears. Moisture in your ear can cause bacterial infections such as the swimmer’s ear which can be a dangerous threat to your ear. 

Always clean or rub your ears with a soft dry towel or cloth after bathing and swimming, to wipe the moisture off. If you feel like water is stuck in the ear, just tilt your head to the side of the blocked ear and gently shake it by putting the small finger in the ear. You can also use a swimmer’s earplugs while swimming to prevent the water from entering the canal.

• Get your checkups done right.

Hearing impairment due to any reason develops gradually and remains unnoticed for months. It is very essential to get your ears’ check-up right along with regular checkups, to make sure that your ears are healthy and to provide treatment in case of necessity. As the adage says ‘Prevention is always better than cure’.

Conclusion

Now we have discussed almost all the causes of ear infections and hearing loss as well as the ways to protect your ears from being damaged.

There are no herculean tasks that you can’t do, there are only simple precautions that you have to take in order to have a healthy ear.

Hearing impairment may not be the last loss you have to face, many other related problems can even affect your brain. It is always better to take the minimum efforts to tackle a big issue at the roots itself.