If your parents or grandparents suffer from hearing loss, you may think you’re headed for the same fate, destined to wear a hearing aid in your golden years. According to Fox News health editor Dr. Manny Alvarez, there are at least 5 areas where you may be causing damage to your hearing, and you can’t just blame it on old age.
Work-related Noise
Some sources say that the average person spends approximately 1/3 of their life at work, so what we do there could have a serious impact on our health. According to Alvarez, your workplace may be less than ideal, consistently subjecting you to sounds above 85 decibels, the widely accepted safe noise level. This is especially true of occupations such as construction or farming, where exposure to unsafe noise levels for longer time periods increases the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
Listening to Music
Whether you are wearing ear buds or are attending a live concert, listening to music can also cause hearing damage. With the World Health Organization estimating that 1 billion young people worldwide are at risk for hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices, it’s a big deal. As with work-related noise, permanent hearing damage can occur due to prolonged exposure to unsafe noise levels.
Medications
Many people don’t know they are taking prescribed medicines that can cause inner ear damage, while simultaneously helping to alleviate other health problems. Known as ototoxic drugs, these medications include some antibiotics, diuretics, and high doses of aspirin or ibuprofen.
Smoking
Studies have shown that smoking causes constriction of blood vessels, which can then lead to hypertension. This also affects the blood flow in the ears, and can cause a decrease in hearing acuity over time.
Transportation
While it’s not necessarily the first culprit that comes to mind, riding in your car with the top down or riding a bike may actually cause hearing loss. This can occur because of exposure to wind or traffic noises that exceed 85 decibels for extended periods of time.
Prevention is Key
In all of these situations, hearing damage can be prevented by following these simple tips:
- Wear appropriate hearing protection
- Limit the time of exposure to unsafe noise levels
- Refrain from smoking and being subjected to secondhand smoke
- Increase the distance between yourself and the sound source
- Talk to your doctor about medication alternatives
Take the steps now to prevent hearing loss and your future self will be forever grateful!
Read the full article at: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2017/11/27/5-ways-youre-damaging-your-hearing.html
