ARS

There is more than one cause of permanent and non-permanent hearing loss. A very common damage type is for example damage affecting the hair cells. Generally, almost everyone is born with roughly 16000 hair cells. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that “Up to 30% to 50% of hair cells can be damaged or destroyed before changes in your hearing can be measured by a hearing test. By the time you notice hearing loss, many hair cells have been destroyed and cannot be repaired.“. This may put you into a stage of alarm but even when you hear less after a concert, it doesn’t necessarily mean your hearing will never go back to its normal state again. You can visualize the hair cells as grass blades bending to sound. While many of those hair cells may recover, continuous exposure to loud noises will over time destroy more and more of those cells. Every single time you listen to overly loud sounds you’re basically putting yourself into a situation of risk.

The best intervention is prevention for this case. There is not much you can do when your hair cells have been destroyed. EPA and WHO recommend keeping environmental noises below 70 dBA in time periods over 24 hours, and below 75 dBA in periods over 8 hours to prevent hearing loss. You could – during your workday for example – take breaks from your headphones or reduce the volume of your music or if you work in a loud working environment make sure to take regular breaks and not strain your ears after a work time. When going to noisy areas there are also options to protect your ear; this can be for example ear muffs, - plugs,- protection and more.

More than 600 million people of the global population (=12%) are at risk for hearing loss of which 1/3 are connected to noise exposure. Noise-related hearing loss is irreversible. Everybody who has the means should try to protect their ears. Your life will simply change when one of your five senses works less. Take responsibility for your health and start to protect your ears, nobody else can be responsible for them.

External auditory canal Auricle

Tympanic membrane

Stapes

Semicircular canals Incus

Vestibular nerve

Cochlea nerve

Cochlea

Tympanic cavity

Eustachian Tube Round window

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – How does loud noise cause hearing loss?

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – How is Sound Measuered?

National Library of Medicine – Current insights in noise-induced hearing loss: a literature review of the underlying mechanisms, pathophysiology, aasymmetry, and management options

Healthy Hearing – Smartphone decibel meter apps to measure noise levels

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – What Noises Cause Hearing Loss?

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders – Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Colonial Center for Hearing – Is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Irreversible?

The national campaign for better hearing - How loud is too loud?

Slow down: Fast food

Thefact is, that following a healthy diet doesn’t go in line with eating regularly in fast food restaurants. Fast food is typically loaded with calories, sodium, and unhealthy fat. This is very harmful to human health. It also tends to be low in nutrients and almost totally lacking in fruit, vegetables, and fiber.

That doesn’t mean you have to avoid fast food entirely. When you’re hungry and on the run, fast food can really hit the spot. It’s cheap, tasty, and, best of all, convenient. But while it’s okay to indulge in cravings every now and then, to stay healthy you can’t make it a regular habit. How often do you eat fast food? If your answer is “too often”, you need to change this habit.

The preparation and cooking methods are as important as the foods we consume. While grilling, the fire on the surface should not be too high and there should be a distance of 10-15 cm between the meat and the fire while cooking. Also, the deep frying method can have a bad influence on health as it increases the fat content of the fastfood menu. Since the same oil is used for 10-12 hours for frying, it is very harmful to the body. Oils used for frying become carcinogenic when used repeatedly. Used oil should never be kept waiting and used again. The peroxide value of the waiting oil increases and oxidizes and can damage the immune system. Frequent and continuous consumption of fried foods significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular and digestive system diseases and cancer.

Effects of Fast Food:

First things first, unhealthy food increases your risk of premature heart disease. You should be making an active effort to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, not only for your heart health but for your overall well-being. Research has found links to an increased rate of heart attacks in geographical areas that have more fast-food restaurants. Fast food can also increase your risk of diabetes, blood clots, and stroke.

The next question on your mind may be “Well…why?”. Keep reading. Fast food is full of saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Add a large soda to your order and that brings an unnecessary amount of added sugar. Is the convenience worth the artery-clogging calories? Consuming unhealthy foods at fast food restaurants can increase your chance of obesity and, in turn, increase your risk of diseases associated with excess weight, such as heart disease and diabetes. High sodium intake can even increase your blood pressure and dehydrate you. High fat and saturated fat intake increases your bad cholesterol and risk of heart attack and stroke.

Decreasing Your Risk:

Now that you know, quit worrying: you are in control. There are different options to fill your stomach quickly, and you can always find healthier options. Snacks, grilled meat, skipping the milkshake – always you can drop some of the extra calories and unhealthy additives. `Be aware of what you put in your mouth and make healthy choices as often as possible. Remember that small changes do pay off over time. Try to make the time in your schedule for healthy meals at home and avoid frequent visits to your local drivethrough.

Reşit Efe Bayram

Sources:

Hearthousej - The effects of fast food on the heart

Helpguide-healthy eating

Wikipedia-Fast food

Gidabilgi-Fast food beslenme

Pictures: Adobe Stock Unplash