Someone contacted me and wanted me to post this article. Took me a while (sorry! School and such!) but here it is! By John O'Connor:
A Healthier Lifestyle Promotes Better Hearing
Eating a well-balanced nutritional diet can help provide a better quality of
life. Adopting a healthier lifestyle promotes better hearing as well. When reducing
an individual's high-calorie consumption, inner ear protection and hearing health is
greatly affected.
The medical community has been repeating the term "free radicals" for some
time. This is due to the discovery of harmful effects these radicals may
produce. The creation of free radicals occurs from an unhealthy caloric
intake. Consuming high quantities of high calorie foods produces high levels of
these radicals. We all carry free radicals in our bodies, and a normal level is
expected. Free radicals become dangerous as higher levels build up in the bodies
system. Once the radicals reach dangerous levels, they wreak havoc on our
system. High levels have the proven ability to damage cells. Once a cell is
damaged the percentage of cancer to the abnormal cell increases significantly. Also
linked to high free radicals levels are a faster aging process, cardiovascular disease,
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes.
The scientific body at the University of Wisconsin released a study showing a link
between a newly discovered enzyme and high free radicals. This enzyme drastically
reduces the levels in our system. The correlation between this discovery and
hearing loss is the link to poor eating habits. The smallest organs and bones in our
body also hold the smallest defense against free radicals. The inner ear houses the
location of three very important bones. Their job is to send a message telling the
brain to determine or interpret the difference between various sounds. Permanent
hearing loss occurs once these delicate bones suffer damage created by free
radicals.
The hearing aid industry has a variety of systems to meet individual's particular
hearing and cosmetic requirements. The latest technologically advanced system is
the digital hearing aid. These invisible systems are available in many styles and
colors. This digital style is extremely small and fits inside the ear canal.
The CIC (completely in canal), BTE (behind the ear), and RIC (receiver in ear)
hearing aids are custom-made and available in many sizes. The CIC version
includes a full-scale ear clasp design, which is the largest of the styles. The
traditional BTE are for those individuals who prefer to continue with the standard
system.
Currently there is no available evidence that damage to the inner ear is reversible
which makes prevention extremely important. Taking the necessary steps for proper
ear care and protection will sufficiently benefit your hearing. Always wear effective
protection such as earplugs and earmuffs when subjected to loud noises. Work
place machinery, loud music and home power tools and mowers all have the
capability of causing significant permanent hearing damage. Never poke anything
into the ear canal as damage to the eardrum can occur as well.
