When it comes to taking care of our eyes, teeth, and ears, unfortunately it’s always our ears that take a back seat to the others. To make sure your ears stay healthy for just as long as possible, here are a few things you should and shouldn’t do to protect them:
What you SHOULD do
- You should do physical activity - this will help your heart and circulatory system healthy which will help keep your ears healthy.
- You should thoroughly dry your ears after swimming, showering, bathing or doing any water sports.
- You should always use protective earplugs to safeguard your hearing in areas with loud noise or sounds.
- You should be sure to have excessive earwax removed by a physician or hearing healthcare specialist.
- You should have your hearing and ears checked regularly by a physician or hearing healthcare specialist.
What you SHOULD NOT do
- You should not smoke. It’s widely known that smoking can damage your body and impact your overall health. You may be surprised to find out it can affect your hearing too! Studies have shown that smokers are more likely to develop hearing loss [1]
- You should not stick cotton swabs (or anything else) into your ear canal. You might feel like you’re cleaning your ears, but you’re actually pushing wax deeper and potentially damaging your ear canal walls. For tips on how to properly clean your ears, click here.
- You should not listen to your headphones too loudly. It’s dangerous and harmful! [2]
- You should not (absolutely not) ignore any pain or drainage from your ears. Visit a doctor or hearing healthcare professional.
- You should not make the assumption that hearing loss only occurs in older people. Currently, hearing loss is a growing danger among younger individuals simply due to earbuds and earphone usage. [3]
For more helpful information, reach out to your hearing healthcare professional. If you don’t have one already, we can help you find one close to you. Call (888) 919-6824 or click here.