Tag Archives: health

Keeping Your Hearing In Tip Top Condition

03/23/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Let’s face it; our ears are incredibly important. Those who struggle with their hearing will bear witness to this. Without the sounds penetrating our brains, we will function much more slowly and less efficiently than usual. It is something that most of us without a hearing impairment take for granted, so we only tend to do something when a problem comes up, and sometimes, that can be when it is too late.

See, that is the thing about our hearing. It generally is not something that can be completely resolved if something goes wrong. Once you have done significant harm, it may be the end of full use for one of your primary senses. That is why people need to be diligent to make sure their ears are kept safe to maintain their health for many years to come. Here, we look at some of the ways in which you can look after your ears and hearing.

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Keep away from loud noise

This is pretty obvious, but important nevertheless. Loud noise is never going to be good for your ears, so avoid it as much as possible. Sure, we all like to have the occasional song on a bit louder, but be sensible. If it hurts your ears, it is probably hurting your hearing. Stay away from loud bangs and crashes that will damage your hearing in both the short and long term, and where possible, wear ear defenders if you have to work around noisy machinery or equipment.

Visit a hearing specialist

A hearing specialist, or an audiologist, will be able to give you advice on your ears and how to prevent further damage to your hearing. If you already have a hearing impairment, they will be able to discuss things like hearing aids and help you to learn more about how to manage them.

Treat any illness or infections appropriately

Damage to our hearing is not always caused by loud noises. Sometimes, illness and infection can cause both short term and long term problems with our ears which can affect our hearing. Sometimes, it can be easier to allow our bodies to fight infection and for it all to blow over by itself, but other times, further action is required to protect all aspects of our health. If you are unwell and are worried that it may affect your ears, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible and find out what they suggest as to the most appropriate form of treatment.

Don’t put anything into your ear

The general rule of thumb is not to put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear. It can be tempting to want to clean or scratch your ears with an earbud or q-tip, but this can push any was further down into the inner ear and compact it. To clean your ears, wipe a damp flannel around the outside of your ear. If you are having issues with ear wax, talk to your doctor or audiologist, or purchase some ear wax softener, which will remove it safely.

Taking Care Of Your Hearing

03/22/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

It is an unfortunate truth that hearing is one of those senses, once it is damaged, that damage is there for good. That is why it is essential that you are more aware of what is and isn’t good for your hearing health.

And it isn’t just for you, it is for your family too.

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Although you should wait until you need a hearing solution before you take steps, you should always learn more about your option should you ever need.

Dry

If you are a swim loving family, then there is always a risk of swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear is where water gets trapped in the ear canal. This is the ideal place for bacteria to thrive. It doesn’t take long before that turns into an ear infection – causing a lot of pain and inflammation. One of the most simple ways to help the water out of your ear is by tipping your head to the side and waiting for a few moments. Failing that, gently pull your earlobe down, and that can usually help any water out.

Stress

Many people don’t realize the reach of stress in terms of physical issues. But stress has been linked with temporary and permanent tinnitus. The higher your levels of stress, the more likely your body will settle into fight or flight mode. And as that is designed to protect you from danger, it floods your body with adrenaline – putting excessive pressure on your body heat, blood flow, and nerves.

Volume

This tends to be something that teenagers do. They often turn their headphone volume up too high for too long.

There are over 1.1 billion teams and young adults that are currently at risk of noise-induced hearing loss.

You can take preventative measures when talking to them about the safest levels of the volume when using headphones. There is a very simple rule that you can apply to the situation, and it is called the 60/60. It is very simple to remember the 60/60 rule – it just means you only have the volume of your headphones on at 60% of the maximum for 60 minutes a day.

Of course, there is a high possibility that they would like to listen for longer or at a higher volume, so you need to find a compromise that works for you. But in general the 60/60 rule is highly recommended.

Rest

Believe it or not, you actually have to rest your ears. Much like every other muscle in the body, they work very hard. If you happen to have a job that is pretty noisy, then you’re going to have to give yourself a couple of hours rest per day. If you enjoy live music, nightclubs, or going to bars, then you will need to have at least 16 hours of rest for your ears the following day. This will help you recover from prolonged loud noise, And it is actually noise-induced hearing loss that comes in at number one for damaged hearing and hearing loss cases.

Going Healthy, Health, Life

Support Someone Through Illness

03/15/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

When friends or family fall ill, it can be a very upsetting time for everyone. It is important that you find out what is expected of you during this period. Some people are happy to take on the responsibility of looking after a loved one, and others take it on because it is the right thing to do. Whichever category you fall into doesn’t matter because the outcome is the same. Taking care of someone during their illness.

Usually, when someone is ill, there is more to it than just their illness to help them deal with it.

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Research

The more you know, the more you can help. Depending on the illness or infection, from an insect bite to cancer treatment, research is your best friend. It will enable you to monitor them at home, to understand what the doctors and nurses are talking about and understand what your friend or family member is going through. It might be that in the end, you can only provide mental support and no hands-on care, or it might be that there is more physical care required than you had initially realized. Research the illness and the best ways that you can help.

Comfort

Recovering from an illness, or being in the middle of something that is incredibly painful can have both a physical and mental impact. Being aware of the mental health implications of the illness will help you be able to communicate and listen to your friend or family member to the best of your ability.

Things like clean towels, bed sheets, and soft pillows are a great ideal. On from that thing like ice chips, straws, blankets and bed pads might be a consideration too. Medical staff will be able to help you make a list of the things you are likely to need.

Most illnesses come with the added issue of dehydration, so whenever you’re around, make sure there is water too.

Entertainment

When you have a lot of hours to fill, it pays to think about some things that your friend or family member can do during that time. In the end, there are only so many times you can play cards. Keeping their mind active is one of the most important things that you can do to help them.

Depending on the circumstances you might need to read a book to them or make their move in chess. And when you really want to, Netflix and Amazon have so many series you won’t be pushed for something to fill the hours.

Sometimes though what is most needed is to listen to your loved one. Talking can often help them process what is going on and gives you an opportunity to provide the best form of support.

More often than not, your friend and family member will feel supported simply by knowing that you are there if they need you and that they can rely on you for simple things like watching a movie, picking up some groceries or some supportive words when they are most needed.