In 2007, the World Health Organization established March 3 as “International Ear Care Day” now known as “World Hearing Day.” Its goal in creating the holiday is to raise awareness on the impact of hearing loss and promote proper ear and hearing care, among others.
It is important to take care of our sense of hearing as this can help us fully connect with friends and family when it comes to social interactions. Hearing allows us to participate in activities and conversations, therefore enriching our personal experience.
Here are some tips on how to take care of your hearing:
Keep the volume low
There is the temptation to raise the volume while streaming your favorite playlist and listening to the tracks on your earphones or headphones. Resist doing this. While one may not notice hearing loss immediately, this practice will affect one’s hearing overtime as one gets older.
Use earplugs when surrounded by noise
There are some workplaces where noise is considered normal like when one is required to handle heavy machinery. There are also airports and piers. Concerts are also events where loud music is considered okay. To help preserve one’s sense of hearing, it is best to wear earplugs during these occasions. One can have custom ones made so he or she can retain hearing the quality of audio but blocking out the unnecessary noise levels.
Rest your ears
Just like any organ in our body, our ears can get stressed too from all the noise. One rock concert isn’t the end of the world for your ears. After enjoying the night out with friends, go out somewhere quiet and let your ears rest. You can also look forward to a good night’s sleep. Health researchers have stated that for every prolonged exposure to loud noises, an average of 16 hours of silence is best for full recovery.
Exercise, eat well, manage stress
Have you experienced a ringing in your ear? Or do you sometimes feel sharp pain in any of them? Sometimes, this is caused by high levels of stress. There is also the possibility of high blood pressure causing your ears to react a certain way. Keeping and eating healthy could help your ears in the long-term.
Don’t use cotton buds
Don’t use cotton buds but instead a damp towel for a light rub on the outer part of the ear canal. Don’t force anything inside, and remember to dry your ears with a towel afterward. If you need to use cotton buds, just lightly use them near the entry of your ears.
The best way to ensure that your ears are in 100 percent condition is to make regular visits to your ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) doctor. Ear wax buildup varies from one person to another (and sometimes, one ear from the other). Your ENT specialist will know when it’s the best time for an ear irrigation (cleaning) process. The doctor will also be able to estimate how many times in a year (or less) you need to undergo cleaning, depending on the frequency of wax buildup.