If a typical day finds you blasting your headphones, shouting over the din at dinner, and blaring the TV, this will come as no surprise: Hearing loss is now a growing epidemic among women in their 30s and 40s, says Douglas Backous, MD, medical director of the Center for Hearing and Skull Base Surgery at the Swedish Neuroscience Institute in Seattle. Even in the quietest places, we can face unrelated issues, like infection, vertigo, and congestion. All ears now? Follow our guide to caring for and protecting this key organ.
Problem No. 1: Hearing loss
The lowdown: This isn t a concern just for drummers and construction workers. Even having earbuds at full blast while you re running every day can cause permanent damage over time, says Eric Smouha, MD, director of otology and neurology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Intense exposure to sound causes wear and tear on the hair cells in your cochlea.