When to seek medical attention; prevention and management of headaches and hearing loss
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Aspirin was invented in 1899. The letter 'a' in its English name, aspirin, comes from the first letter of its scientific name, acetic acid salicylic acid. 'Spir' comes from a plant in the genus Spiraea-the original source of this drug. The suffix 'in' was a common suffix in English drug names in the late 19th century.
When to see a doctor
For most people, it's a personal choice. Dr. Hofft says, "When a headache affects your life, you should see a doctor. If it's not important to you, then just bear with it." Dr. Lipton agrees: "I don't think everyone who has migraines should see a doctor. It depends on how much the condition affects the patient."
One view shared by doctors is that many headaches act as warning signs, alerting you to see a doctor. These include: a worsening headache; the ineffectiveness of common treatments; headaches accompanied by neurological symptoms such as numbness, tinnitus, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, or difficulty walking; headaches accompanied by fever; neck stiffness; excessive vomiting; and the development of a new type of headache after age 55. If any of these symptoms occur, your headache may be a sign of a worsening of a more serious underlying condition.
Deafness
Always keep your hearing
What's going on? Why does your wife always complain that you're distracted? Why does everyone sound mumbled when they speak? Listen, buddy, there's something wrong with your ears.
Indeed, hearing loss is more common in the elderly, with about 30% of people over 65 experiencing some degree of hearing loss; among those over 75, this rate is as high as 40%. However, the process of hearing loss can also begin earlier, and hearing experts say that people are now experiencing hearing loss at increasingly younger ages.
Why? The constant noise of modern society is damaging our ears, especially for men. While both men and women use headphones and attend rock concerts, more men are exposed to the noise of construction sites and factories, not to mention gunfire, chainsaws, jet engines, lawnmowers, and blowers. Even congested traffic can produce noise levels exceeding the 85-decibel safety limit set by experts.
Sounds above 85 decibels can overstimulate the inner ear cells that transmit sound to the auditory nerve. If exposure to loud noise is very brief, these cells will recover quickly, but prolonged exposure can damage them. This is because the effects of sound on the ear are cumulative, and repeated exposure to noise can lead to hearing loss, says James Lankford, a professor of hearing and PhD at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
The Sound of Silence
Of course, noise isn't the only cause of hearing loss. Age, genetics, head injuries, recurrent infections, and certain medications can also cause hearing loss, even in a reclusive hermit. However, while you can't guarantee what will happen in old age or control genetic factors, you can eliminate the biggest threats posed by these factors through some simple methods of controlling the volume.
When listening to stereo or watching TV, get used to using a low volume. Also, don't turn the headphone volume up too high or sit too close to the speakers.
Wearing earplugs with foam balls inserted into the ear canal or earmuffs that cover the ears like hand shields can reduce sound by 15 to 30 decibels, which is enough to keep most ambient noise within a safe range. So, which method is better, covering the ears or plugging the ear canal? Dr. Lankford says, "The best method is to cover the ears." Therefore, your choice should simply be to ensure that the earmuffs fit properly.
Michael Wayne, PhD, associate professor of otolaryngology at Indiana State University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, says there's no need to worry about not hearing what you should hear; earplugs cancel out background noise and enhance understanding of normal speech. He adds, "At concerts or bars, earplugs can actually improve sound quality and make lyrics clearer." For around $1,000, you can even buy high-fidelity earbuds favored by musicians.
When should you wear ear protection? Lawrence Fitcher, PhD, professor of toxicology at the Oklahoma State University Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, says that if you find all sounds muffled after leaving a noisy environment, you've been in a high-noise setting. Dr. Wayne's experience is: "If you have to raise your voice to be heard, the surrounding environment is too noisy." But even slightly lower volumes can have a cumulative effect on hearing, Dr. Fitcher says. He recommends wearing ear protection when using high-powered tools or listening to music.
The longer you are exposed to noise, the greater the damage to your ears. So you should take breaks to rest your ears and give them a chance to recover.
Other protective measures
Noise is not the only cause of hearing loss; here are some other ways to protect your ears.
Don't stick anything in your ears. Earwax isn't waste; it's useful and helps prevent infection. Regular cleaning is sufficient to remove excess earwax, so don't stick sharpened cotton swabs into your ears to remove it-this is a mistake. Dr. Ronald Amedy, associate professor of otolaryngology at Tullon University Medical Center in New Orleans, says that doing so will push earwax deeper into the ear canal and block it up. Ear specialists have cured many hearing-impaired patients using specialized methods to remove earwax.
Keeping your ears dry can help. Water left in your ears can alter the pH balance, leading to infections. This is especially important if you swim frequently. Regardless of whether you wear earplugs, Dr. Amedi recommends using Star-Otic Ear Solution. You can buy it at a pharmacy or make your own. "Mix one pint of table vinegar with one pint of rubbing alcohol," he says. "Putting 4-5 drops into each ear before leaving the pool will help restore the ear's pH balance."
To maintain good health, Dr. Wayne advises: "Eat properly, exercise appropriately, and avoid coffee and smoking." These practices will prevent damage to blood cells. "If blood flow to the capillaries is restricted, it will affect hearing."
What to do if you experience hearing loss?
If you find it difficult to hear things, or you have to ask the other person to repeat themselves several times before you can understand what they are saying, don't deny that there is something wrong with your ears, and go see a doctor for a checkup as soon as possible.
Latest Information
• Commonality: Approximately 10% of Americans will experience permanent hearing loss at some point in their lives.
• Risk factors: The primary cause is noise. Other factors that can lead to hearing loss include genetics, head tumors, recurrent infections, certain medications, and chemicals.
• Affected age groups: Gradual hearing loss to high-pitched sounds may begin in the 30s or 40s and progress to lower-pitched sounds by the 50s or 60s. By age 75, 40% of men have severe hearing loss.
• Gender differences: Men and women have the same ear structure, so the chances of hearing loss are the same for both sexes. However, men are more exposed to noise and have more opportunities to develop head tumors, and therefore they are more likely to have hearing problems.
• Seeking help: Have a hearing test done by a hearing specialist. If medical treatment is required, consult an otolaryngologist or ENT specialist.
"The longer you delay, the more difficult it becomes to treat, and the greater the chance that the condition will worsen," says Dr. Wayne. Prompt treatment is especially important if sudden hearing loss occurs, accompanied by dizziness or persistent tinnitus, or if symptoms only appear in one ear.
The best way to determine the nature and degree of hearing loss is to have a hearing test performed by a registered audiologist. This service is generally offered by major hospitals, medical schools, and speech and hearing clinics.
Dr. Lankford recommends that you have an examination by an ENT specialist to determine if you have any other underlying conditions. A variety of conditions, from earwax buildup to infections to tumors, can cause hearing loss.
If medical treatments fail to restore your hearing, experts will recommend hearing aids. Dr. Amedi says, "In recent years, hearing amplification methods have regained popularity." Hearing aids are smaller and more effective; some high-powered hearing aids fit snugly behind the ear, while others can be inserted directly into the ear canal.
If you decide to buy hearing aids, it's best to consult a registered audiologist first and try them out for a while. It takes time to evaluate these devices and gradually adapt to them. Also, stay in touch with the seller, as the devices may need adjustments from time to time.