The cold snap is not yet over and while many of us wrap up warm in winter coats, gloves and scarves, there is one bit of the body that sometimes gets forgotten. Our ears can be affected by cold, dry weather and need to be kept comfortable and healthy.
Protection from the elements
Our ears have very little muscle or fat, as they are mainly made up of mainly cartilage, which means that they easily become cold in bad weather. Drops in temperature can also lead to blockages, as earwax inside hardens. To prevent this, always cover your ears if you’re going out by wearing earmuffs, a hat or headband.
Keep infection at bay
Winter often leads to cold, flu and sinus infections, but you can prevent infection by staying hydrated and keeping your home moist with a humidifier. If you do become unwell and notice ear pain, discharge or muffled hearing, get it checked immediately with a GP or look for a hearing test near me for professional ear assessments such as https://www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/. It’s a good idea to have a winter health check anyway, as regular monitoring can help catch hearing issues early.
Exposure to noise
Any sound at or above 85 decibels is harmful to your hearing and winter festivities like parties and fireworks can be high volume, so protect your ears with earplugs or keep the volume down a notch.
Year-round care
Keeping your ears clear and healthy means you can enjoy life more and avoid hearing loss, so make them a priority all year round.