5 common mistakes that ruin your hearing

Your ears can be damaged when exposed to loud sounds, when using cotton swabs or when swimming... How to care for and protect your ears to keep them healthy?

Turn up the volume too loud

According to a survey by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 28% of high school students say they have to turn up the volume to hear television programs. Another study found that 17% of high school students regularly experience tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.

Listening to music from an MP3 player at high volume for long periods of time will wear down the sensory hair cells in your ears, causing temporary hearing loss.

Dr. Richard M. Rosenfeld, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Long Island University Hospital (Brooklyn), recommends the following:

- Take breaks if you have to listen to music through headphones. You should only listen to music for no more than 60 minutes a day and at no more than 60% volume.

- Use noise-canceling headphones. This way, you won't have to crank up the volume to drown out outside noise.

- Do not stand or sit next to speakers at parties or concerts.

Use cotton swabs

According to Webmd, earwax can be uncomfortable and unsightly, but it actually protects your ears. Let it push out on its own and then use a soft cloth with a little water to clean your ears.

Using cotton swabs can introduce germs and push some earwax deeper into your ears. If your ears are affected by earwax, see your doctor for a check-up and they can safely remove the earwax.

Earwax protects the inside of the ear, so using cotton swabs is unnecessary and harmful to your ears. Photo: Womenshealthmag.

Do not use earplugs while swimming.

Swimming pools are places where a lot of dirt and bacteria hide, so your ears will inevitably be invaded by them when swimming, and you may even get an ear infection or otitis.

Symptoms of an ear infection include ear congestion, hearing loss, and itching. Later, the ear canal becomes swollen, painful, and the ear drains pus. If the ear is painful to the touch, it is time to see a doctor.

However, Dr. Rosenfeld advises against using earplugs while swimming because it can cause trauma to the ear canal.

Apply sunscreen, forget your ears

People often forget to apply sunscreen to their ears, says Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, director of the Washington Institute of Laser Dermatology. “Ears are very sensitive to the sun, so don’t forget them,” says Tanzi.

She said the ear is one of the most common places on the body to get skin cancer. The first symptoms of this disease are usually red ears, cracked ears, and easy bleeding if scratched. Consult your doctor if you have signs of these symptoms.

Ear piercing

The earlobe is the softest, most blood-supplying, and infection-resistant part of the ear. If you accidentally pierce the cartilage, it can lead to severe anemia and infection.

In particular, after piercing your ears, you need to take good care of the piercing site. Remember to wash your hands before cleaning the area. Then, soak a cotton pad in alcohol and gently rub around the area several times a day.

If your earlobe starts to feel hot or itchy a few hours or days after getting it pierced, you may have an infection. If antibiotic cream doesn't help, you'll need to let the piercing heal on its own.

If you are allergic to nickel, you should wear gold or stainless steel earrings.

According to Alobacsi.vn