Important Habits to Protect Your Ear Health and Hearing

Published on: 12 June 2018 Last Updated on: 03 March 2021

Hearing loss isn’t always something that can be prevented. Sometimes loss of hearing is just something that happens as you get older.

But in an increasingly loud and busy world, hearing loss might be caused early or worsened by the environment around you.

And once you’re hearing is gone, it can be gone for good.

Can you imagine life without being able to hear? It’s a scary thought for many and should be. And yet, very few of us take the proper precautions in protecting our ears and our hearing.

That changes now. If you’re committed to the concept of ear health and protecting your hearing, read on. We’ll discuss several ways to help ensure that your hearing stays strong and true for many years to come.

The Case For Earplugs :

You likely rolled your eyes back in your youth when your parents advised you to wear earplugs to that rock and roll concert. But they were on to something.

Approximately 15% of Americans lose hearing as a result of too-loud work or leisure environments. If you work or spend lots of time in an environment where the sound level forces you to shout to be able to communicate, it’s likely that the sound levels there are dangerously high. This loudness could be due to a concert or club, or even more often, due to some form of loud and consistent machinery.

If you know that you spend many hours around this kind of noise level, you should absolutely invest in a good pair of earplugs. Earplugs are easy to obtain, generally affordable, and can even be made individualized for your ears upon request. They can dampen the level of sound coming in from your environment by a significant margin, helping to curb the possible loss of hearing.

Keep The Volume Low :

According to the World Health Organization, over a billion people each year are at risk of hearing loss due to the unsafe use of audio devices. Earbuds, like the popular headphones designed by Apple, are especially dangerous for ear health as they fit directly into the eardrum.

If you’re a music lover, you probably spend a lot of time listening to music on headphones. If you care about the health of your ears, though, you should make an effort to keep the volume at a lower level. Doctors recommend a philosophy they’ve dubbed the 60/60 rule. The rule is a recommendation that you listen to music through headphones at 60% volume for less than 60 minutes a day for the benefit of your hearing.

Even when not listening to headphones, you should aim to keep music played at a normal level to ensure long-lasting ear health.

Avoid Cotton Swabs :

One of the most common items in any household bathroom cabinet is a jar of cotton swabs. These little tools have been used by people to clean out ear wax for years and years, but it’s only more recently that their nefarious reputation has begun to reach the public.

It actually turns out that a little wax in the ears is both healthy and normal. Ears are self-cleaning organs and the wax in your ears actually serves to prevent dust and other particles from entering your eardrum.

If you do have excess wax, it is not advisable that you use a cotton swab. You can very easily damage your eardrum by using a cotton swab. Instead, considering using a damp towel to gently clean around the canal.

There are also various ear wax solutions that are available in stores. These are applied to the ears overnight and can help to dissolve and soften ear wax so that it can flow out of the inner ear on its own.

Keep Your Ears Dry :

Another frequent cause of ear damage is extra moisture. Excess moisture can allow bacteria to enter the ear canal and cause serious problems, such as a swimmer’s ear or other infections.

Following swims at the pool or beach, showers or baths, or any other water-related activity, you should be sure to gently towel-dry your ears. If you can feel the moisture in your ear following swimming or bathing, tilt your head to the side and tug lightly on your eardrum to help water drain out.

There are also specially designed swimmer’s earplugs available on the market, which can help prevent water from entering your eardrum during a swim. They work great for any age, kids or adults, and can be individually fitted for your ear by a licensed physician.

Consider Getting Regular Check-Ups :

Especially as you get older, you should ask your physician to incorporate hearing screenings into your regular checkups. Hearing loss doesn’t happen in a flash of light, it is a very gradual process. It’s recommended, then, that you have yearly consultations with a hearing healthcare professional, who can recognize the signs of hearing loss while it is still in the early stages.

Taking action against hearing loss is important, as is discussing it with your doctor. Loss of hearing has been linked to other health concerns such as depression, dementia, and heart disease. Establishing a relationship with your doctor in regards to ear health early on can contribute to better overall health later on.

If you do find yourself losing hearing, you should ensure to invest in a proper hearing aid. With all the advances in rechargeable hearing aids over the past few years, they now serve people with hearing impairment much better. A well-designed hearing aid can help improve the quality of life for someone who has lost hearing and can stave off the other health issues previously mentioned. If you’re interested in the best hearing aids on the market, you can learn more here.

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How to Remove Neck Pain – 4 Tips Not to Miss

Do you often report neck pain while looking upwards or sideways? Do you also experience pain in the neck while waking in the morning? Well, if yes is your answer, then the following post is for you. Before, moving further, it is equally important to understand that you're priceless The neck is most susceptible to pain. But, why? Well, you should know that the pain in the neck originates from muscles, tendons, and ligaments as they are usually considered to be the soft tissues adjoining the most important backbone of the body that is “cervical spine”. How to Remove Neck Pain – 4 Tips Not to Miss Let’s now read about the tips:- Don’t carry your weight on one side of the body How often do you carry heavyweight such as briefcase etc on one side of the body? Well, chances are that you unknowingly carry the same for hours together. Well, it has side effects as the uneven load lets one side of your shoulder droop, thus giving undue pressure and strain on the muscles of your neck. What should you do? Well, the best thing you can do for a healthy beginning is to make use of the bag pack, which you can easily carry behind your back. Yes, that’s a smarter way. Yes, it distributes the weight on either side, giving you an easier way Similarly, carry only your essentials, that will further minimize the pressure on your body and you feel relaxed a lot, amidst the cumbersome professional life. If possible, always sleep on your back Do you know that your spine needs comfort and rest? Well, obviously, since the spine is the backbone of your body equally maintains the position and posture of your body. While you rest, the spine should be in a perfect position to rest as well. Now, few people put a pillow below each arm to lessen the strain off their neck. Well, you can do as well, if it helps. Well, furthermore, you can even try Laser Acupuncture Pen, as it helps in reducing pain and assists in the regeneration of cells by improving the circulation of blood too. Get a new pillow There is a big percentage of people who often feel uneasy due to stiff nick while getting up in the morning? So, what you should do? Well, always remember, that your cervical spine is best when it rests in its neutral alignment. Yes, as long as the curves of your neck is maintained, so you have nothing to worry about. You may have got an idea about the position of your neck, get a new pillow if the previous one isn’t able to do justice to your body. Talk less on phone : Do you know that while talking on your phone many times, you unknowingly try to support your handset with your shoulder tip, thus straining your neck? Well, yes. It happens as it disturbs the natural alignment of your neck, thus giving you serious issues if it continues unabated. Well, always try to talk in a way, where your neck should be aligned on the top of your shoulders, in its natural form. Hydrate your body well : Do you know that as your body is hydrated well, it directly hydrates the discs present between vertebrae in your neck? You should know that these discs comprise of water, so when your body has enough water, they become strong. So, how many liters of water you should drink? Well, you should ideally consume 8 liters of water on a daily basis. This is how you can follow on the tips to remove neck pain and get a healthier life every day. Read Also : Best Therapies To Cure Pain And Discomfort 7 Signs Which Indicate That You Need To See a Vein Specialist Right Now

10 Weird Facts About Antidepressants

People are working longer hours, have less time with family, and are constantly battling stressful situations. In addition, being constantly inundated with the news through social media can make anyone depressed. There's not enough time for daily yoga and meditation. As a result, many of us are turning to antidepressants to get us through these stressful times. But antidepressants come at a cost, and it's important to know all the facts. Some of these facts aren't common knowledge, and often your doctor won't even discuss them before prescribing antidepressants. Here are 10 weird facts about antidepressants that will surprise you. 1. We Don't Know How Antidepressants Work: Antidepressants have been around for a long time, and yet, we still don't know exactly how they work. And since everybody's depression is different, we don't know how well they work for varying degrees of depression or if they sufficiently treat depression at al. In fact, we don't even know if they're safe for long-term use. 13% of Americans take antidepressants, some for other illnesses like anxiety and fibromyalgia. Yet studies -- mostly paid for by pharmaceutical companies -- include only a few thousand people. Many of us have been told that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, but we don't really know if that's true either. What most studies look at is our brain's level of serotonin. However, neither lowering nor increasing the level of serotonin in the brain reduces the symptoms of depression. If low levels of serotonin were the cause of depression, then antidepressants wouldn't take several weeks to work. They would work immediately, or at least within a few days, once the levels of serotonin increase. But they don't. Another interesting fact about antidepressants is that some don't even increase serotonin and still work as well as any other antidepressant. 2. All Antidepressants Are Equally Effective: It's a known fact about antidepressants that pharmaceutical companies spend a lot of money pushing one pill over another. Doctors aren't pharmacists and tend to push whatever antidepressants they're most familiar with. At times, they're buddies with the pharmaceutical sales rep. A fact about antidepressants is that there's no evidence that one antidepressant is more effective at treating depression than another. What a person needs to weigh is the cost and side effects, which can vary greatly from one person to another. There are over 30 different kinds of antidepressants available. They all work on different parts of the brain, inhibiting or increasing receptors of certain hormones. They have different side effects, and they all are equally effective. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't. 3. They Don't Work Immediately: All antidepressants take several weeks before they're fully effective. It can take anywhere from two weeks to a month before you know if it's the right antidepressant for you. One unfortunate fact about antidepressants is that many people have to cycle through several kinds of antidepressants, suffering from a variety of side effects before they find the right one. That's a long time for trial and error. And eventually, the effectiveness wears off over time. Many people build up a tolerance, and signs of depression return. Then you need to try a different antidepressant, and the trial and error process begins again. This could make anyone depressed. Fortunately, there are other treatments like TMS which don't require you to take any medication at all. 4. Dosage Makes No Difference Either: Many doctors start their patients off with a low dose and then gradually increase over time. There's no evidence that this is necessary or that higher dosages are more effective. Since this is the case, you're better off taking a low dose and having less negative side effects. It's a myth that a person will get better quicker if they are on a higher dosage of an antidepressant. 5. Antidepressants Can Help Your Sex Life: It is a pretty well-documented fact about antidepressants that one side effect is a lowered sex drive. That said, depression itself can lower your sex drive too. Interestingly, this low-libido side effect can have its benefits by helping men with premature ejaculation. Antidepressants can delay ejaculation, and for men who suffer from premature ejaculation, the delay can be a big help. One study found that men who took an SSRI a couple of hours before intercourse had longer ejaculation times compared to the placebo group. 6. Animals Get Depressed Too: Americans spend an estimated $15 million a year on medication for their depressed cats and dogs. Depression symptoms for animals aren't too different than those for people, so it's fairly easy to detect. However, it's difficult to treat animals with therapy. Instead, some veterinarians are treating pets with antidepressants. Zoo animals are on antidepressants too. They are being used to treat everything from aggression to obsessive-compulsive disorder. 7. You'll Feel Worse at First: Not only do antidepressants take a while to kick in, but your symptoms may be exacerbated. It's not uncommon for you to feel more tired, less hungry, less ambitious, and sadder. Things will get better. It just takes a while. In addition, the side effects don't help either. This is why doctors usually start a person off with a low dose, to reduce the intensity of side effects, before they find the right medication and dose. 8. Antidepressants Can Be Harmful: Antidepressants come with a long list of side effects, many of which mirror the symptoms of depression, lethargy, insomnia, nausea, anger, violence, and even suicidal thoughts. The side effects can sometimes be more debilitating than the illness it's treating. A person needs to seriously weigh the pros and cons. Often a person can mistake a side effect of the medication as a symptom of depression. Since we don't know how the drugs work, it's hard to know. Another fact about antidepressants is that once you start, it's not safe to quit cold turkey. A person should wean off of them slowly, and many aren't willing to do this. Quitting antidepressants quickly can be dangerous. 9. You Can Overdose on Antidepressants: Too much of a good thing can be too much. As mentioned, more isn't always better, but often people have prescribed higher doses of antidepressants anyway. You can overdose on antidepressants, and the symptoms of overdosing on them aren't always obvious. Zoloft overdose symptoms can include lethargy and nausea, which may be confused with ordinary side effects. Other, less obvious overdose symptoms include high blood pressure or inflammation of the pancreas, which can be mistaken for a cold or flu. However, if a person seems agitated, confused, or is vomiting, that's not normal. If someone taking antidepressants has these symptoms or becomes incoherent or unresponsive, call a doctor immediately A Zoloft overdose also can lead to a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome can occur when dangerously high levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin build up in the brain. 10. Antidepressants Can Interact with Other Drugs: It's very important to tell the doctor prescribing antidepressants if you're taking other drugs. It's also essential that you're honest about your use of recreational drugs and alcohol. All of these can have harmful interactions with antidepressants. Don't ever share your medication with anyone, especially if you don't know what other medications they might be taking or if they are using recreational drugs. Interactions can be deadly. Facts About Antidepressants Revealed Now that you know more about antidepressants, you can make a well-informed decision about taking them. Depression is debilitating, and some people battle with the disease their whole lives. For some, antidepressants are a last resort, and for others, they're hoping for a temporary solution that will give them an opportunity to have a better perspective. No matter the reason, there is no shame in being depressed or needing treatment. However, there are other methods of treating depression that can be used in conjunction with medication, such as therapy, exercise, diet, and natural remedies. Many of these have been proven to be equally effective. For more great articles about staying healthy, visit our blog. Read Also : 3 Ways To Connect With Nature And Quiet Your Mind Your Guide To HRT For Men All That You Need To Know About Dandy-Walker Syndrome

How To Care For The Elderly: Tips For The Caregivers

Ultimately, caring for the elderly can be very challenging. It can even be emotionally and physically exhausting. After all, the responsibilities of taking good care of a senior citizen may include help for anything like eating, dressing, and reminding them to take their medicine. With all these tasks, everything boils down to one thing – patience, patience, patience. If you’re new in caregiving and you’re planning to work in San Antonio nursing home, here are a few tips to consider when caring for the elderly. Bathing and Personal Hygiene: A large part of caregiving for the elderly usually includes assistance with daily activities such as bathing and getting dressed properly. With that said, you should be prepared to how much helping someone can be incredibly daunting. Below are some ways to help the elderly with grooming and dressing: Set a bathing schedule that suits their needs. While people would like to have a daily shower, a senior citizen may only need a daily sponge bath or even a full bath twice to thrice a week. Make sure you create a peaceful environment for bathing. You can use the music to keep them calm. Waterfalls sounds, birds, or classical music may help to soothe them. Be sure you prepare their bathwater before you bring them into the bathroom. This will help minimize the agitation of the senior citizen. Remove their clothes right away to prevent toileting accidents from happening. Be ready with the towel and clothing when they come out of the shower or tub. After the bath, put on the towel immediately to keep them warm and protect their modesty. Use assistive devices to make bathing and grooming safer. Look for shower chair or hair washing tray to help you carry out your caregiving tasks. Ensure there are no safety issues in the bathroom. Keep the throw rugs away so they’ll not create a risk of falling. Also, check the water temperature before the elderly gets into the tub and make sure the grab bars are installed properly. Prepare clothes in order and so dressing will no longer be difficult. If possible, try to encourage the elderly you’re caring to dress themselves If you think brushing their teeth is quite tricky, use mouthwash as an excellent oral alternative. Safety Hazards: Safety is one of the primary concerns when caring for the elderly. For instance, falls are the most dangerous accidents that may happen. Keep these things in mind to ensure the safety of older adults: Check whether the room has adequate lighting. Installing some nightlights can be a perfect idea. Be mindful of the clutter that surrounds the area. Make sure you don’t let clutter pile up on the floor and in other familiar places. Check all the electrical cords. Be sure they’re tacked to the baseboards and out of the elderly’s way. Reduce the number of furniture that may interfere with the smooth movements of the elderly. Remove extra pieces if possible to protect them from accidents. Be sure you have properly installed handrails and grab bars along the stairways and in the bathroom. Physical Health: Doing physical activities and exercise can be useful for an elderly individual. Thus, find ways to help them stay active as long as their condition permits them. However, be sure to ask the doctor first before doing any activity. Here’s how you can encourage an older adult to have an active lifestyle: As a caregiver, you can take a walk together on a daily basis. If walking is almost impossible, you can take them on a stationary bike or shop airline approved mobility scooters. If their condition allows them to do so, let the elderly do some stuff like sweeping, gardening, and dusting. Communication: Being a caregiver means you have to communicate with an elderly individual from time to time. Moreover, when talking to them, make sure you do it directly, simply, and positively. Below are some communication tips that you may think about when dealing with older people: Use eye contact and mention their name when you’re trying to speak to them. Use simple questions when asking. Questions like, “Are you hungry?” or “Are you tired?” If you want to make a conversation, don’t hesitate to hold their hand. The Bottom Line: Taking care of the elderly is no easy task and without patience, time, and little hard work, you may find caregiving a completely daunting process. Hopefully, you see this article helpful as you take on this caregiving role. Read Also: How To Protect Your Finances While In A Nursing Home How Martial Art Can Help You Stay Fit And Healthy

Important Habits to Protect Your Ear Health and Hearing

The Case For Earplugs :

Keep The Volume Low :

Avoid Cotton Swabs :

Keep Your Ears Dry :

Consider Getting Regular Check-Ups :

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Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Related

How to Remove Neck Pain – 4 Tips Not to Miss

10 Weird Facts About Antidepressants

How To Care For The Elderly: Tips For The Caregivers

Important Habits to Protect Your Ear Health and Hearing

The Case For Earplugs :

Keep The Volume Low :

Avoid Cotton Swabs :

Keep Your Ears Dry :

Consider Getting Regular Check-Ups :

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Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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