What care will you take to keep your ears healthy

It’s easy to take your ears—and hearing—for granted. But don’t wait until you have a problem to begin paying attention to your ears. Take care of them now. Proper ear care promotes good ear health. It can prevent ear infections and help prevent hearing loss. Path to improved health The first step toward a healthy ear is a clean ear. Do not mistake a clean ear for a wax-free ear. Your ear is designed to have some wax in it. This wax stops dust and other possibly harmful things from entering your ear. Keeping your ears clean involves cleaning the outer portion of your ears. You should never stick a cotton swab in your ear to remove earwax. Doing so doesn’t really remove the wax. All it does is compact the wax closer to your eardrum. Earwax should not be close to your eardrum. This can cause a blockage, which is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. If you feel you have a buildup of wax in your ear, you may try to soften wax. You can do this by placing a few drops of mineral oil in your ear. If you do not have mineral oil, you can use baby oil or glycerin. If this doesn’t work, you should see your family doctor. To clean your outer ear, simply use water, a gentle soap, and a washcloth. You can also use a cotton swab to run in the curves of your upper ear—just do not stick them in your ear canal. Use the washcloth to wipe above and behind your ear. If you have ear piercings, you should clean them regularly with rubbing alcohol. You should also routinely clean your ear...

Earwax removal by a health care provider When too much wax builds up in the ear, it can be removed by a health care provider using a small, curved tool called a curet. Your health care provider can remove excess wax by using a small, curved tool called a curet or by using suction techniques. Your provider can also flush out the wax using a syringe filled with warm water and saline or diluted hydrogen peroxide. Medicated ear drops may also be recommended to help soften the wax, such as carbamide peroxide (Debrox Earwax Removal Kit, Murine Ear Wax Removal System). Because these drops can irritate the delicate skin of the eardrum and ear canal, use them only as directed. If earwax buildup continues, you may need to visit your health care provider once or twice a year for regular cleaning. Your health care provider may also recommend that you use earwax-softening agents such as saline, mineral oil or olive oil. This helps loosen the wax so that it can leave the ear more easily. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice o...

You can clean your ears at home with a damp washcloth or over-the-counter drops. If your ears are impacted, a doctor can remove wax buildup. Do your ears feel blocked up? Excess wax can accumulate sometimes and make hearing difficult. At the same time, you’ve probably read that using cotton swabs isn’t a safe way to remove the wax. Here are some tips on how to safely clean your ears, what not to do, and when you should contact a doctor. Many people never need to clean their ears. Sometimes, though, wax can build up and affect your hearing. When earwax reaches this level, it’s called If you have impaction, you may experience symptoms like: • aching in the affected ear • fullness or • • an odor coming from the affected ear • • a cough You may be more likely to develop excess wax if you use hearing aids or earplugs. Older adults and people with developmental disabilities are also at higher risk. Your ear canal’s shape may make the natural removal of wax difficult. The safest way to remove wax buildup from your ears is to visit a doctor. At your appointment, your doctor can use special instruments, like a cerumen spoon, forceps, or suction device, to clear the blockage. Many offices also offer professional irrigation. If you choose to try to remove wax at home, the following are the safest methods to try on your own: Damp cloth Cotton swabs may push wax deeper into the ear canal. Use cotton swabs only on the outside of your ear or, better yet, try wiping the area with a warm, ...

Do you struggle to hear the television? Are you frequently asking others to repeat themselves? If so, you're not alone: Approximately 40 million Americans have some form of hearing problem. 1 Our sense of hearing is complex and delicate, and it plays an essential role in our physical and mental well-being. While the field of audiology has made impressive advances in hearing aid technology and recognizing signs of hearing loss, there are also easy hearing care steps you can take on your own that may help promote healthy hearing. Read on to learn about the different types of hearing loss, and how you can keep your ears protected, with 10 tips to help identify risks and prevent hearing loss — or stop it from getting worse. Types of Hearing Loss According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), there are three types of hearing loss: 2 • Conductive hearing loss occurs when sounds cannot get through the outer and middle ear. • Sensorineural hearing loss occurs with inner ear damage or problems with the nerves leading from the inner ear to the brain. • Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. 12 Tips Improve Hearing and Prevent Hearing Loss Hearing loss can have a significant impact on your health and well-being. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent hearing loss. Check out these twelve tips to protect your ears and keep your hearing sharp. 1. Avoid loud noises Turn the volume down on yo...

Hearing loss can often be easily prevented by wearing earplugs, exercising regularly, using medications properly, and practicing other ear-healthy behaviors. An estimated 15% of Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss, which is most common among adults between the ages of 60 and 69. Taking steps right now to protect your hearing can help you reduce your risk for hearing loss later in life. Continue reading to gain tips on how to protect your hearing and ear health, and how to contact Lompoc Valley Medical Center if you or your loved one needs specialized ear, nose, and throat treatment. 1. Wear Earplugs Around Loud Noises Loud noises such as those emitted by power tools, concerts, lawnmowers, firearms, and aircraft can all gradually lead to hearing loss, especially if you are exposed to these noises on a regular basis. Wear earplugs in environments that expose you to loud noises to protect your ears and reduce your risk of hearing loss. Your employer or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) can recommend the best earplugs for you based on your environment. 2. Turn Down the Volume Listening to loud music can damage your hearing, especially when using earbuds that sit directly next to your eardrum. Keep the volume turned down when watching television or listening to music in your home or vehicle, and consider using over-the-ear headphones instead of earbuds, which place more distance between your eardrums and noise from portable devices. 3. Give Your Ears...

Here are some tips for keeping your ears healthy. • Never poke anything into your ears. The lining of the ear is delicate and you can easily damage it • Don't use cotton buds to clean your ears. They can irritate the ear canal and push wax back inside, making it more difficult to remove • To keep ears clean, wash the visible part of the ear and behind the ear using a little soap. Then wipe the soap away with rinsed fingers and dry with a thin towel • Don't immerse your ears in bath water, as body bacteria may enter your ear canal and could cause an infection • Try a drop of olive oil in each ear once a week to soften earwax and encourage it to move out of the ear naturally • Use earplugs to protect your ears from dust and loud noise • Don't ignore ear problems; they won't improve without the right treatment. The longer you leave an ear problem, the longer it may take to treat. Everypne's ears work differently. Some ear may produces more, the other less. Not to forget: the secretion is healthy and important. Its function is to remove dirt and bacteria. It arises in the wax glands, medically called glandulae ceruminosae. The glands are located in the anterior ear canal. The glands that secrete it are slightly altered sweat glands. In general, it consists of more than 1000 substances, not all of which are known by a long way. The cerumen also contains antibacterial agents to make it as difficult as possible for the little intruders. This is another reason to leave enough wax i...

Do you struggle to hear the television? Are you frequently asking others to repeat themselves? If so, you're not alone: Approximately 40 million Americans have some form of hearing problem. 1 Our sense of hearing is complex and delicate, and it plays an essential role in our physical and mental well-being. While the field of audiology has made impressive advances in hearing aid technology and recognizing signs of hearing loss, there are also easy hearing care steps you can take on your own that may help promote healthy hearing. Read on to learn about the different types of hearing loss, and how you can keep your ears protected, with 10 tips to help identify risks and prevent hearing loss — or stop it from getting worse. Types of Hearing Loss According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), there are three types of hearing loss: 2 • Conductive hearing loss occurs when sounds cannot get through the outer and middle ear. • Sensorineural hearing loss occurs with inner ear damage or problems with the nerves leading from the inner ear to the brain. • Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. 12 Tips Improve Hearing and Prevent Hearing Loss Hearing loss can have a significant impact on your health and well-being. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent hearing loss. Check out these twelve tips to protect your ears and keep your hearing sharp. 1. Avoid loud noises Turn the volume down on yo...

Earwax removal by a health care provider When too much wax builds up in the ear, it can be removed by a health care provider using a small, curved tool called a curet. Your health care provider can remove excess wax by using a small, curved tool called a curet or by using suction techniques. Your provider can also flush out the wax using a syringe filled with warm water and saline or diluted hydrogen peroxide. Medicated ear drops may also be recommended to help soften the wax, such as carbamide peroxide (Debrox Earwax Removal Kit, Murine Ear Wax Removal System). Because these drops can irritate the delicate skin of the eardrum and ear canal, use them only as directed. If earwax buildup continues, you may need to visit your health care provider once or twice a year for regular cleaning. Your health care provider may also recommend that you use earwax-softening agents such as saline, mineral oil or olive oil. This helps loosen the wax so that it can leave the ear more easily. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice o...

It’s easy to take your ears—and hearing—for granted. But don’t wait until you have a problem to begin paying attention to your ears. Take care of them now. Proper ear care promotes good ear health. It can prevent ear infections and help prevent hearing loss. Path to improved health The first step toward a healthy ear is a clean ear. Do not mistake a clean ear for a wax-free ear. Your ear is designed to have some wax in it. This wax stops dust and other possibly harmful things from entering your ear. Keeping your ears clean involves cleaning the outer portion of your ears. You should never stick a cotton swab in your ear to remove earwax. Doing so doesn’t really remove the wax. All it does is compact the wax closer to your eardrum. Earwax should not be close to your eardrum. This can cause a blockage, which is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. If you feel you have a buildup of wax in your ear, you may try to soften wax. You can do this by placing a few drops of mineral oil in your ear. If you do not have mineral oil, you can use baby oil or glycerin. If this doesn’t work, you should see your family doctor. To clean your outer ear, simply use water, a gentle soap, and a washcloth. You can also use a cotton swab to run in the curves of your upper ear—just do not stick them in your ear canal. Use the washcloth to wipe above and behind your ear. If you have ear piercings, you should clean them regularly with rubbing alcohol. You should also routinely clean your ear...

Hearing loss can often be easily prevented by wearing earplugs, exercising regularly, using medications properly, and practicing other ear-healthy behaviors. An estimated 15% of Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss, which is most common among adults between the ages of 60 and 69. Taking steps right now to protect your hearing can help you reduce your risk for hearing loss later in life. Continue reading to gain tips on how to protect your hearing and ear health, and how to contact Lompoc Valley Medical Center if you or your loved one needs specialized ear, nose, and throat treatment. 1. Wear Earplugs Around Loud Noises Loud noises such as those emitted by power tools, concerts, lawnmowers, firearms, and aircraft can all gradually lead to hearing loss, especially if you are exposed to these noises on a regular basis. Wear earplugs in environments that expose you to loud noises to protect your ears and reduce your risk of hearing loss. Your employer or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) can recommend the best earplugs for you based on your environment. 2. Turn Down the Volume Listening to loud music can damage your hearing, especially when using earbuds that sit directly next to your eardrum. Keep the volume turned down when watching television or listening to music in your home or vehicle, and consider using over-the-ear headphones instead of earbuds, which place more distance between your eardrums and noise from portable devices. 3. Give Your Ears...