According to research, one out of every six adults in the UK is affected by hearing loss. Unfortunately, the same goes for other sensory organs due to the exposure to so many risks. You can prevent most of such dangers by putting some measures in place. Below are a few tips on how to keep your senses safe.
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Sight
According to research, by the time you turn 60, your pupils would have reduced in size by about 33.3%, making it harder to see without some extra light. Aside from natural degeneration, many potential conditions exist that may affect your sight at any age. However, the good news is most of them are avoidable. Cataracts is an eye condition that is brought about by ageing, diabetes, and trauma.
You can protect your eyes from cataracts by avoiding tobacco smoking, too much exposure to sunlight, and an unbalanced diet. Glaucoma is another common eye condition that may be prevented; by exercising regularly. Another common condition is macular degeneration, and like cataracts, it may be prevented with a healthy diet, no smoking, and less exposure to sunlight.
Consider taking diets rich in vitamins A, C, and E, which are known to slow down macular degeneration progression. In general, having regular eye examinations is a decision worth making to help preserve your sight since eye examinations help expose any potential conditions.
Hearing
Research proves that as you age, your ability to hear higher frequencies reduces. However, it is possible to maintain your hearing abilities for a long time if you take preventive measures. Tinnitus is a condition that arises when the ears get damaged due to prolonged exposure to loud music. Some other causes include smoking.
Therefore, you can protect your hearing by staying away from super loud environments, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy diet. It is also advisable not to use cotton buds to clean the insides of your ear. If you notice any reduction in your hearing ability, you may want to visit a hearing aid shop to access technology that will assist you.
Taste
Ageing may significantly reduce your taste buds, but you still have a role to play in protecting your sense of taste. Practices such as staying clear of smoking, maintaining good dental hygiene, and eating foods containing zinc can help protect your taste buds. And remember that your sense of taste and smell are linked, so protecting one benefits the other. Losing your sense of taste, is sure to cause a loss of appetite, which results in poor nutrition, affecting your health in general.
Smell
During your lifetime, some factors that may temporarily or permanently affect your sense of smell are the common cold, sinusitis, smoking, nasal polyps, neurodegenerative diseases, and certain medications. To restore your sense of smell in case of loss research has found that your sense of smell can be trained by repeatedly smelling different odours over several weeks to restore it. You should also consider visiting your doctor if you notice any reduction or loss.
Touch
It has been found that as you age, your skin gets thinner and loses elasticity, causing a reduction in your sensitivity to pain, temperature, etc. However, some other factors, such as poor circulation, injuries, and some medications, can also cause your sensitivity to touch to minimise. Live a careful life to reduce the risk of injuries, especially as you age since your body may not recover as well as it would have when you were younger. Involve yourself in activities that include touch such as gardening, painting, hugging, petting, etc. That’s because the prolonged absence of such activities can cause a reduction in your sensitivity to touch.