As summer approaches, I know that I will start seeing more patients with ear complaints and injuries. why? Many ear conditions and injuries come from things related to warmer weather and more busy outdoor activities, such as water sports, motorbikes and amusement park rides, celebrations on July 4th, flying insects! If you are not careful, they can create their special problems for your ears. I tell you how.
Water sports and other recreational activities
Infections and barotrauma [changes in sudden atmospheric pressure from wind or deep water] to the ear are the two most common types of injuries that occur frequently in the summer. Here's how they happen:
Swimmer's ear: from
Water enters the ear canal and destroys the natural acidity of the bacteria that it normally checks. The infection can start from the depths of the ear and become very painful. Children often have swimmers' ears, but I also see many adult patients. In fact, you can let the swimmer's ear take water from the ear while showering!
Symptoms are first itching, a feeling of blockage, hearing loss, and then pain. However, the swimmer's ear is easily treated with antibiotic ear drops, which can relieve symptoms within about 48 hours.
Helpful hints: from
If you like to dive and/or swim underwater, use earplugs. Make sure your external auditory canal is dry so that water does not drip into your inner ear. To prevent infection, the acid balance was restored by dropping 3-4 drops of the same amount of white vinegar and alcohol mixture into the ears. The vinegar restores the acid balance and the alcohol is dried from the water. Don't use Q-tips in your ears! Your hands will not only slip and cause eardrum penetrating injuries, but tiny cotton fibers will also stay in your ear and cause infection.
Scuba diving, jet skiing, kite surfing and motorcycles: from
The eardrum can be damaged by turbulent winds [such as fast jet skiing, motorcycle or kite surfing] or deep water [snorkeling]. Symptoms include tinnitus, hearing loss, or blood from the ear.
Helpful hints: from
If it is difficult to balance the pressure during scuba diving, please rise in the water until you can. Don't dive because you already have a cold or sinus congestion, because it puts extra stress on your inner ear. If you are going to water skiing, wind surfing, kite surfing, you can use a water sports cover and/or earplugs made of neoprene. For motorcycles, wear a helmet and head forward. Turning it laterally allows the wind to rush into the ear canal under high pressure. It not only blows dirt and bugs into your ears, but stress itself can also damage your hearing.
Surfer's ear: from
This is an overgrowth of bone in the external auditory canal, which occurs when exposed to cold water and wind. Bone masses grow in the ear canal, causing infection, congestion, and low hearing. Common among cold-water surfers, such as water skiing, wind surfing, kite surfing or water sports that participate in any high-pressure wind affecting the ears. Surgery is usually the treatment of choice to remove bone growth.
Amusement park rides: from
A roller coaster ride and a high drop-down amusement park ride will cause ear pressure to drop, in the same way that deep water can damage the eardrum. The researchers studied people who rode high-speed, fast roller coasters and found that if they turned their heads slightly during the first plunge, the rush of high-pressure air that forced into the ear canal would cause hearing loss.
Helpful hints: from
Put on a neoprene cover or a swimming cap for water or kite surfing to keep your ears covered. If you want a brave roller coaster or a "sudden drop" ride, use earplugs and keep your head forward.
Summer noise
With warm weather, noisy buildings/road construction, July 4th celebrations, big rock concerts, car races, and even lawn mowers, all of which can damage your hearing. Let me share with you that the huge noise in this situation will hurt your ears.
Firecrackers, concerts, car races: from
If you ever shot down M-80 or Cherry Bomb Firecrackers on July 4, you will know that they can get close to them. If you take part in an outdoor fireworks show, these fast percussion explosions will have the same effect on your ears, just like in a battlefield with shells. Similarly, go to an outdoor rock concert or car race and see people covering their ears with their hands? Typically, these events are very loud in the 90 to 140 decibel range. Anything over 80 decibels will permanently damage your hearing. In the best case, it can make your hearing disappear after a few hours.
Helpful hints: from
You can go to the fireworks display to see the beautiful colors and designs, and sing out the night sky instead of the explosion. Help yourself, protect your ears, and put on earplugs! For concerts and car races, yes, it's great to be on stage or near the track, but your ears/hearing will thank you for getting a farther seat or lawn ticket.
Construction / road construction, lawn mower: from
I don't know what is louder, wind cannons or those very high speed saw blades for cutting steel. If you live or work near this very loud decibel structure and find that you have to yell and talk to someone, this is too much noise for your ears and hearing safety. Similarly, placing lawn services on large or large lawn mowers on your or neighbor's lawn throughout the summer can adversely affect your hearing.
Helpful hints: from
Once again, take some earplugs. Try to reduce the noise by keeping the windows closed and pulling out the heavy sound-absorbing curtains on them.
Insects, dirt and other flying Bys
This may sound like a city legend, but insects do get into people's ears, eyes and mouth! In fact, this happened to several of my patients. In most cases, this happens when you ride a bicycle and you will encounter flying insects at right angles to your ears. This can happen when you swim, because the insects floating on the water will see a safe haven to swim.
Similarly, dust or other splashing debris can work from outside into your ears, especially if it is windy, you are cleaning the brush or gardening, where debris can easily fall on your ears. This ear invasion can cause inflammation and irritation to you and your ears.
Helpful hints: from
If you have insects, dirt or debris in your ears, do not put your fingers or any other objects [such as Q-tips or tweezers] in your ear to try to remove them. This can cause insect bites or bites, and/or substances that drive into the ear canal. Instead, put some baby oil or olive oil into the dropper and put a few drops into the ear. Then lie down in your affected ear. Oil usually causes insects to suffocate and will surface. Similarly, dirt or other debris should also be able to surface. It is best to seek medical care because the doctor can safely flush any obstacles in your ears.
Cuts, explosions and bruises
If the ear is cut or scratched in some way, pressure is applied if the bleeding is severe. The outer ear is very rich in blood vessels and can bleed a lot. If the ear tissue is lost and the bleeding does not stop after 5 minutes of stress, seek medical attention immediately. For even minor scratches, wipe gently with warm soap and water or hydrogen peroxide. Use a compression bandage and some ice to avoid swelling and pain. If the swelling or pain does not disappear, please see a doctor.
If you are hit by an object [such as baseball, frisbee or rock], seek medical attention as soon as possible to make sure the inner ear is not damaged.
While summer sports and outdoor recreation have specific ear health and safety issues, taking precautions in advance can help ensure that you don't harm your hearing or inner ear. Accidents can always happen, especially in the summer, but using a little common sense can minimize the permanent damage to your ears and let you enjoy all the fun of summer!
Orignal From: Prevent summer ear injuries!
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