There are several common ear problems which can easily be prevented simply by wearing a good pair of antibacterial ear plugs. Here are a few examples. Swimmer's ear. This ailment is frequent amongst the swimming community and many have suffered some degree of it at some point. The action of the water and chlorine, as well as soaps and perfumes is to damage and soften the outer protective layer of skin.
Prevent Common Ear Problems
This makes it permeable to germs, fungi and viruses. These are found in sea water and on dirty fingers and lead to ear infections. Wearing ear plugs for swimming is enough to prevent this from happening. ZenPlugs are exceptionally good at keeping water out and are even antibacterial so have a double-action in this instance.
Surfer's ear. This is a common affliction amongst those who have surfed for many years. Most people who have surfed regularly for more than ten years without protecting their ears will have some degree of it. What happens is that the cold wind and water chill the outer part of the ear. The body responds by growing over the bones around the ear canal, leading to deafness and an increased risk of ear infection. Ear plugs keep the canals warm, defending against the problem.
Ear pain whilst flying. Tight fitting ear plugs are ideal for preventing the pain you get when your ear drum is stretched whilst descending in an aeroplane. Earplugs maintain the pressure in the ear canal for longer, giving your Eustachian tube longer to adapt to the change in pressure. Blockage of this tube is a common reason for ear pain whilst flying.
Noise induced deafness. Hearing loss is on the rise amongst teenagers, likely as a result of listening to music at too high a volume on MP3 players. It is important not to listen too loud or for too long.
Ear plugs will defend against noise induced hearing loss whilst in a loud club or bar, but only if you remember to take them with you. This is also a good reason to wear earplugs under your motorcycle helmet as the rush of the wind and traffic noise are also enough to make you go deaf. Driving with the top down, particularly in a classic car can also lead to deafness without ear plugs in. Modern cars tend to be more aerodynamic so make less noise.
