It’s a showdown of hearing vs. unhealthy habits. Who will win? Unfortunately, it’s usually the bad habits that incur hearing loss, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you don’t think your bad habits are harming your hearing, take a look at the below habits and see just how they can hurt you. There are ways you can lessen your risk and exposure to hearing damage. Take care of yourself, because your health is interconnected with your hearing in ways you never thought possible. Several studies have backed this up. Let’s examine closely all the unhealthy habits you may be engaging in and how they put you at risk for hearing damage.
Loud Noises
Concert, sporting events, fireworks. All those loud noises are doing a number on your hearing, especially when you sit up close. For example, when you attend a rock concert, each pulse coming out of the speakers can lead to significant losses in terms of your hearing. Even the TV and video games, when put up to full volume, can damage your precious ears in no time at all, especially with young people.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Millions of people fall victim to obesity, not just in America but all over the world. You can hurt your hearing when you are obese because if you have diabetes as a result of this affliction, your blood circulation is not as good as it should be. This can result in hearing losses. Sedentary lifestyles can lead to obesity in the first place, so do what you can to incorporate a healthy exercise plan and diet into your daily life to curb these effects.
Listening to your MP3 Player
We said before that loud concerts are bad for your hearing. It’s even worse when you place that loud music right into your ears with an MP3 player. The ear buds you’re using are directing massive amounts of sound into your inner ear, trapping the sound because it can’t readily diffuse. All that intense energy has nowhere else to go but into your ear, causing significant losses in terms of hearing on a temporary or long-term basis.
Smoking
Smoking and hearing loss? Doesn’t seem like the two should go together, but they do. Quitting smoking can help your lung capacity as well as your hearing capacity. Of course you’re already aware of the negative effects smoking has on other areas of your health, but it may come as a surprise that your ears’ vibration sensors can be harmed by the chemicals inherent in cigarettes. They can’t as easily detect small sounds so the end result is hearing loss.
Skipping the Doctor
It’s important to have a standing annual exam with your ear specialist in order to stay on top of changes in your hearing. This is so your doctor can have a baseline for comparison and better treat you for any concerns that may crop up. Preventive maintenance is crucial, so don’t just make an appointment when your ears are bothering you. Go every year for a complete hearing evaluation and treatment if needed. Your doctor will also let you in on some tips for maintaining a healthier lifestyle, which can help your hearing.