For those of us lucky enough to have hearing, it is a sense that we use all day every day. In fact, for many of us, our ears and brain are working in tandem even while we sleep to pick up any unusual noises and keep us safe. Of course, that means taking care of our ears and keeping them healthy is a priority we all share. It is also a subject that you can get the lowdown on in the post below.
Ditch the Q-tips
Cup tips or ear swabs as they are often known are one of the most significant sources of ear injury there is. The reason for this is people insistent on using them to clean out their ear canal when they are only designed to be used on the auricle, that is the outer part of the ear.
Unfortunately, if you use swabs on the inside of your ear, you risk pushing wax down into the canal and further impacting it. You also risk bursting the eardrum, which can not only permanently impact your sense of hearing but can be painful as well. To that end, it’s a smart idea to drop the Q-tips and if the inside of your ears needed cleaning, get a professional to do it for you.
Louder isn’t always better
We all love hitting the open road with the windows rolled down and blasting our favorite music at top volume. However, loud music and other such habits can cause incredible damage to your hearing.
To that end, be sure to be more mindful of the volume in which you play your stereo and at which you listen to music through headphones. Also, if you find yourself in an exceptionally loud environment like a music concert or a construction site, consider wearing ear protection like a plug or protective headphones.
Finally, if you do have to be in such a situation, make sure you give your ears a regular rest from the bombardment of sound, throughout the experience and afterward.
Get regular hearing exams
Next, if you want to keep your ears in tip-top condition, it’s vital to go for regular hearing exams. Sadly many people put these off because they are worried they will discover the sense of hearing is declining.
However, with all the hearing aid innovations that are now happening, even if a decline is noticed, many inconspicuous and effective options can help you restore it. To that end, be sure to schedule regular hearing exams at least a few years.
Manage your stress
You can also help keep your ears healthy by properly managing your stress. This is because stress can put additional strain on the body and result in a higher occurrence of issues such as tinnitus – a ringing in the ears that can be infuriating.
With that in mind, staying in overall good health and using tactics such as square breathing, exercise, and meditation can also help you keep your ears and your hearing in tip-top health.