Hearing loss is an inconvenient reality for many Americans. Whether it’s because of a lack of knowledge surrounding what can cause hearing loss or damage, or simply bad luck outside of your control, hearing loss can occur much more easily than you might imagine. However, with the right knowledge and steps, you can protect your hearing health in a way that will keep your ears strong for the rest of your life. To keep your ear and hearing protection efforts on the right track, here are eight tips for preventing hearing loss:
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1. Be Aware of Your Environment
Knowing the state of your environment and how it is potentially impacting your hearing is the first, and most crucial step on this list. By having a consistent, healthy approach to living an ear-healthy lifestyle, you can easily cut down on your chances of experiencing significant hearing loss. From sports games to concerts to industrial work sites, many, many places can provide disruption to your hearing. Especially if you live within a city, knowing what hazards you have to deal with, and how to deal with them successfully, will be key to keeping your hearing in a healthy state.
2. Avoid Frequently Listening to Loud Music
Source: theverge.com
The most common cause of major hearing loss is frequently listening to loud music. Whenever you listen to music, understanding what levels are harmful to your hearing is critical. Thankfully, with the proper education, you’ll be able to avoid dangerous hearing damage. Knowing the right decibel levels for music is key in this regard. Additionally, concerts are the most dangerous place in terms of loud music exposure, so consider using the next step on this list when going to any concert in the future (doing so can be one of the most practical ways to avoid dangerous, painful hearing loss).
3. Soundproof Earplugs
When you do find yourself in a potentially hazardous environment for your hearing, wearing soundproof earplugs that are both effective and safely produced is key. However, be sure to avoid wearing the wrong type of earplugs for the occasion. If you were in the armed forces and were given incorrect hearing protection that’s led to tinnitus or other hearing loss issues, be sure to contact the knowledgeable legal professionals at RosenfeldInjuryLawyers to earn the restitution you deserve. You deserve to have your country pay for any damages and hearing aid needs after providing your service, and the professionals at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have the experience needed to make sure you win your case and get your lifestyle needs back on track.
4. Keep Your Blood Pressure at a Healthy Level
High blood pressure has many negative health effects, including harsh effects on hearing. Individuals with higher-than-average blood pressure are 52% more likely to experience severe hearing loss in their lifetime. Talking with your doctor regularly about your blood pressure levels, monitoring them, and ensuring that your blood pressure is brought under control if necessary, will all ensure your hearing remains sharp. Regular exercise can be a fantastic way to help keep your blood pressure levels under control.
5. Avoid Smoking
Source: spine-health.com
Smokers have an average hearing rate loss that’s 15% higher than their non-smoking counterparts. In many cases, however, second-hand smokers are in more danger, as they are likely to experience hearing loss rates at a 28% higher rate than those not exposed to smoking. That’s right, not only should you avoid smoking yourself, but avoiding exposure to second-hand smoke is just as important in ensuring your hearing stays sharp and effective. Thankfully, smoking rates are decreasing more and more every year, making it easier to avoid smoking’s hazards than ever before. Children can be especially susceptible to hearing damage from second-hand smoke, so be extra careful about allowing them to be exposed to this already highly toxic chemical.
6. Maintain a Healthy Weight
If you’re able to keep a healthy weight, you’ll experience a ton of health benefits. Not only will you ensure that you’re keeping your hearing in an effective state, but other issues related to heart and ear health will be kept under control as well. Understanding your BMI needs, and seeking out assistance in losing (or gaining) weight if needed will help you lower your chances of experiencing serious hearing loss in your lifetime. Additionally, having lifestyle habits that keep you at a healthy weight will allow you to more easily understand how to make changes in your day-to-day routine that will prove useful in many other personal, professional, and social aspects of your life.
7. Understand Signs of Hearing Loss
To keep your hearing in a solid state, consulting an audiologist such as hearing health solutions and understanding the warning signs that point to serious, irreversible hearing loss is crucial. Not only will this keep you out of harm’s way, but it will allow you to maintain a consistently healthy lifestyle as well. Whenever you find yourself in a particularly loud situation, consider how you can mitigate the effects on your ears, by using soundproof earplugs and other useful precautionary measures.
8. Schedule Regular Hearing Checkups
Source: hearinghealthcenter.com
Even if you follow each of these important steps, knowing your actual current state of ear health is essential. By scheduling a hearing checkup yearly, or whenever you suspect issues may be occurring, you can guarantee that your ear health is kept as strong as possible. Screenings can often be done at other local healthcare locations if you’re not able to secure a normal doctor’s visit. Knowing your hearing health needs will assist you in obtaining the most useful health insurance possible to you as well.
Hearing Health is Key to a Fulfilling Life
Without your hearing intact, living your life to the fullest can become burdensome. Thankfully, with these eight tips, you can easily keep your ears in a strong, well-functioning state. Even if you do experience hearing loss or damage, a technology designed to strengthen your hearing is more advanced than ever before and can help you to mitigate the unfortunate effects hearing loss will have on your life.
