Most of us tend to assume that there is nothing we can do to prevent hearing loss. We attribute it to the natural aging process. Nevertheless, there are a number of different things that we can do in order to reduce our chances of a hearing problem. It is all about maintaining good ear health and lowering your exposure to noise. With that being said, read on to discover the different steps you can take.
Protect your ears at loud sporting events and concerts – If you are someone who likes to attend sporting events and/or concerts, you should make an effort to protect your ears. Such occasions can result in tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss. This is especially important if you are attending events such as air shows and car racing.
Learn how to clean your ears properly – A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that the best way to clean their ears is with cotton swabs. However, this is not the case. When it comes to ear cleaning, not only are cotton swabs counter-productive and ineffective, but they are potentially very dangerous too. There are much safer alternatives. If you feel like your earwax is visible, you should simply use a dry washcloth after you have had a shower and wipe the earwax away.
Talk to your doctor about your medications – If you take any type of medication, you should definitely speak to your doctor for more information. There are a number of different drugs that are also ototoxic. This includes a number of different chemotherapy drugs, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics. You should always speak to your doctor about any medication you are taking to find out how these tablets are going to have an impact on your overall health, not just your hearing health. Sometimes the side effects are worse than the benefits so it is definitely worth having all of the information.
Be careful around machinery – Another step you should take to prevent your chances of suffering from hearing loss is to be careful around machinery. If you work with machinery, your employer should have taken the necessary precautions to prevent hearing loss, such as providing you with the correct PPE. You also need to be cautious if you are using machines around the home. This includes everything from chainsaws and lawn mowers to power tools and leaf blowers.
So there you have it: a look at the different strategies you can follow to prevent hearing loss. If you follow the steps that have been presented above, you can go a long way to ensuring you do not suffer from hearing loss. It is all about making sure that your ear health is protected while also staying away from loud and potentially damaging noises.
