Our ears play a vital role in our everyday lives. With our ears, we hear the sounds in the environment. It is also through our ears that we have body equilibrium or balance. Without our ears, we will become deaf and we would be wobbling about. It is therefore important that we take care of our ears so we can continue to function efficiently. Here are 7 ways to ensure the good health and condition of your ears.
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Changes in pressure can cause your eardrums to burst. It is therefore important to take measures to prevent this from happening. If you are flying or going to high-altitude places, you should prepare or open up the Eustachian tube. You can do this by chewing gum or sucking on a candy before the pressure changes. You can also take a decongestant a few days before the trip if you have or are just recovering from a head cold. If you are a diver, then be sure to descend and ascend at a steady pace to give your ears time to adjust to changes in pressure.
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Be careful about not getting water into your ears while swimming, bathing, or showering as this can cause an ear infection. If you cannot avoid being in the water (if you are a swimmer or something similar), then use a swimming cap to prevent water from entering your ears. If you feel water inside your ears, try to shake it out.
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It is an old-fashioned practice to use cotton buds to clean the ears. This doesn’t need to be done because ears are self-cleaning. You just have to wash the exterior portion, of course avoiding water from entering, and your ears will take care of excreting the wax. Have your doctor check your ears if you think there is an abnormal build up of earwax.
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Ear infections, when not treated immediately, can cause hearing difficulties. Some symptoms of an ear infection are: pus, ear pain or discomfort, and pressure in the ear. Make sure to consult with your doctor if you suspect an ear infection.
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The cochlea is the organ in your ear that facilitates the ability to hear and recognize sounds. The tiny hairs around this organ pick up vibrations. The cochlear nerve then delivers the vibrations to the brain. When the cochlea is exposed to excessive noise, the hairs are damaged and scar tissues are formed. These scar tissues can’t conduct sound and so your hearing is compromised. You can prevent this kind of damage by avoiding exposure to noise as much as possible. Keep the volume of your TV or music at 70% or below. If you must be somewhere with noise, then wear earplugs. Remember that if you have to shout to be heard, then the noise level may be damaging to your ears.
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These medications and drugs are believed to cause temporary hearing loss: ototoxic drugs, drugs for malaria, and salicylates. If these are taken with diuretics or when there is liver or kidney failure, then the risk for hearing loss is increased. Be sure to talk to your doctor about these drugs; take them as directed. Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a sign of a problem. If you experience this or any abnormal symptoms, then immediately consult your doctor.
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Damage to the temporal bones that protect the middle and inner ear can cause hearing loss. Be sure to protect your head with a helmet if you are involved in contact and extreme sports. A helmet should also be used when driving a motorcycle or a bike. Wear your seatbelt when riding a car. Avoid getting into accidents that may damage the side and base of your skull.
Don’t take these little (and not so little) things on the sides of your head for granted. Don’t wait until you can no longer hear or walk right. Immediate action, preventive measures, and protective equipment can help you from sustaining permanent ear injury and damage.
Top Photo Credit: photographs by Alexandra White