Our ear’s do a lot for us, from helping to transmit sound to maintaining our balance to cleaning themselves and growing along with us. They contain the smallest bones in our body and yet are responsible for so much. To help keep them healthy, let's follow these tips:
Never insert anything into your ear. This includes even those cotton swabs which can injure your eardrum.
Clean your ears safely. We can wash the outer ear with a washcloth. But our ears usually don't need to be cleaned internally because they have a built-in self cleaning mechanism. However if you have earwax buildup frequently causing pain, it is best to visit a doctor for ear cleaning.
Avoid continuous exposure to noisy environments. Frequent or prolonged exposure to loud noises can lead to having loss of sound. If it is difficult to avoid due to professional commitments then at least wear ear protective gear like ear-muffs, noise cancelling headphones etc.
Take precautions during air travel to avoid discomfort in ears during flights.
- Yawning, swallowing or chewing gum during take off and landing helps avoid air pressure buildup in the ear.- Avoid sleeping during take off and landing.
- Lastly consider using a decongestant if you have a cold.
Keep ears dry (as much as possible). Wear protective gear like ear plugs while swimming.
Avoid unnecessary use of ear drops in ears. It may lead to fungal infection or even damage hearing if used in excess.
Never put OIL in Ears.
See your audiologist and ENT specialist regularly for hearing assessment.
Apply lotion / sunscreen to the skin of the outer ear when going out.
Avoid excess use of earphones.
Make sure all your hearing aids are clean and dry.
Dr Garima Goel
( India )