Note: This is an article from a fellow blogger- John O'Connor
It used to be that many
people assumed that little could be done to prevent hearing loss. They
believed that hearing loss was inevitable as they grew older and that their
everyday lifestyles contributed nothing toward losing the ability to hear.
However, doctors today argue that a person's lifestyle directly
influences how well that person can hear as he or she grows older.
Certain habits can be discarded or altered if people want to protect their
sense of hearing.
In fact, loud noises continue to be the
greatest risk to one's hearing. People who work in noisy conditions or listen to loud music
compromise their ability to hear well. Frequent exposure to loud noises
damages a person's eardrums and sometimes causes it to rupture. For that
reason, doctors urge people to limit their exposure to such noises or wear ear
plugs if they work in noisy environments.
Likewise, people can take
preventative measures to protect their hearing by eating a healthy diet.
Diabetes has been identified as one of the conditions that contribute to
hearing loss. In fact, many diabetics report that they no longer hear as
well as they did before they developed this condition. While many people
are not aware of the link between diet and hearing loss, doctors note that
people who eat healthy, get plenty of exercise, and avoid gaining too much
weight overtime often hear better and keep their sense of hearing longer.
Moreover, people who smoke
also put themselves at risk for losing their ability to hear well as they grow
older. More than 70% of smokers report hearing loss, leading doctors to
believe that smoking has a direct effect on people's inability to hear.
Even individuals who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke indicate a
compromised hearing ability. For that reason, physicians also encourage
people to quit smoking if they value their sense of hearing.
Aside from watching one's
diet, exercising, and avoiding cigarette use, many doctors recommend that
people clean out their ears regularly. This suggestion would appear to be
common sense; however, some people do not think to remove excess wax from their
ear canals and when doing so, remove wax in a harmful way. Even so,
periodically washing one's ears out with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide
helps remove wax build up in the ear canals. To ensure safety, visit your
doctor to have wax properly removed from your ear canals.
If you feel you are
beginning to lose your hearing, a trip to the audiologist could be very
helpful. An audiologist will be able to run certain tests to determine
base line hearing levels. With these results, they will be able to
provide tips on how to further protect your hearing or in some cases recommend
the use of a hearing
aid to help better hearing.
Following the tips mentioned above and making healthy lifestyle changes
not only will improve your health but also protect your hearing.
