If you’ve been doing your research on hearing loss, then you’ve likely come across the fact that it’s one of the most common health conditions around, especially in later life, affecting up to one in five people. It might make it sound like it’s inevitable in some cases. You might not be able to guess what age will bring, but you can make sure that you’re not more likely to experience hearing loss now. Here are a few ways to do that.
Mind your head
Though not as regularly considered a threat to your hearing as some of the issues that we’re going to talk about below, stress does have a major impact on your hearing. There is evidence that stress can lead to an increased likelihood of hearing loss due to the fact that stress can reduce blood flow to the ears. This can reduce or even stop inner ear circulation, leading to hearing loss. Treat stress when you feel it, whether it’s by improving your sleep quality, using meditation, or finding other forms of relief.
Protect against overly loud noise
Excessive levels of noise are the greatest risk to your hearing. Any noise that is over 75 dB puts you at risk of hearing loss, though louder noises are more likely to affect your hearing in less time. Protect your hearing when engaging in any particularly loud hobbies such as going to the shooting range or listening to a concert. If you work in a loud environment, make sure that your employer provides the protection that you need.
Can earwax be serious?
Having earwax in your ears is not usually something to be too worried about. We produce it to help clear our ears of dust and dirt. If you produce a little more than most, however, it can lead to an earwax blockage. An earwax irrigation kit is usually enough to clear your ear and the temporary muffle that it causes. However, if your ear is blocked badly, it can lead to an ear infection, which can increase your risk of permanent hearing loss.
Ear infections should be treated ASAP
While though to be more common in children, ear infections can affect anyone, often resulting from colds, throat infections, allergic reactions and the like. Ear infections can cause permanent hearing loss if the swelling in the ear damages any of the parts of the ear responsible for picking up and transmitting noise to the inner ear or the brain. If you experience the signs of ear infection such as an earache alongside nausea or odd-smelling drainage, you should see a hearing health specialist and have it treated as soon as possible.
Get your hearing tested
If you want to make sure that your hearing isn’t getting worse, then the single best method is to get in touch with your hearing health provider and get a hearing test. Even if your hearing is perfectly fine, it’s a good idea to get one that serves as a baseline so that future tests can more accurately depict whether hearing loss is occurring.
There’s a lot that can be done to prevent hearing loss. You have to be diligent and know which risks apply most to you.
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