Protecting Your Senses is Common Sense
As everyone gets older, our senses become less and les sharp. Each one of your five senses play a huge role in how you interpret and enjoy the world around you, so it is important to do everything you can to protect them in any way that you can. Many of these things are very simple and don’t require a lot of effort on your part. If you are straining your eyes, trying to read in the dark, turn on a light. If you are listening to your music through headphones too loud, turn down the volume just a little bit.
In this blog post, we are going to be running through each of your sense one by one with some handy tips that should help you to keep them all sharp for the longest time possible. So, without further ado, here is a common sense guide to your senses.
Sight
The first thing that you should do to protect your vision is to visit an optometrist regularly, particularly if you notice any changes in the way you see or if you find yourself struggling to read things. In some cases, you may develop cataracts, if this is the case you will want to find out more about cataract surgery melbourne (or a surgery near you) to help repair some of your sight. At home, though, you can help to avoid eye strain yourself by performing tasks in the proper lighting. Many of us are now experiencing vision problems as we spend so much time working on computer screens. To combat this, you should take regular breaks to focus on things further away.
When the weather gets brighter, wearing sunglasses helps to stop your eyes from becoming strained. If you wear glasses on a regular basis, keep them clean so you are not impairing your vision any more. Making sure you get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as vitamins C and E can also be very beneficial. Keep track of your general health closely. For example, high blood pressure has been closely linked to detrimental eye conditions. If you are still a smoker, now is the time to stop as this activity. You may not naturally associate smoking with eye damage, but it can significantly increase your chances of developing vision-related issues like cataracts.
Hearing
Though hearing loss was always typically associated with people in old age, exposure to loud noises on a sustained basis can be problematic for everyone. In fact, the World Health Organisation estimates that one billion young people under the age of 35 could be putting themselves at risk of hearing damage because of their unsafe listening habits. Be careful of listening to music that is too loud with your earbuds in for too long. Try getting some noise-cancelling ones so you don’t feel the need to crank up the volume when the background noise is particularly loud. The 60-60 rule suggests that you listen to your music at no higher than 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes per day. Remember, hearing damage often tends to be permanent. Always wear the appropriate protection if you are working in a noisy environment. If you experience any sort of hearing loss or pain, you should consult with a medical professional at the earliest possible opportunity.
Taste and Smell
Your senses of taste and smell tend to be closely linked, so they are worth discussing together in more detail. One of the biggest threats to your sense of taste is poor dental hygiene. Make sure that you brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day, as well as flossing on a regular basis. Visiting your dentist is something which you should be doing at least annually. They can identify any problems that you are having, as well as providing cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening and braces. We have already talked about smoking related to eyesight, but it is also something which can significantly impact your sense of taste and smell, dulling both of them. You can also help to enhance your sense of taste by trying different flavours such as curries, horseradish, and cinnamon on a regular basis. However, you should aim to watch your intake of salt. Smelling different scents can also help you to keep this sense active. Foods that are high in zinc such as lamb, yoghurt and seafood can help out with your sense of smell. Be wary of anything which you are allergic to around the home, and try to treat any problems at their source or with medication.
Touch
As you get older, sensitivity in your skin tends to decrease. Again, eating a balanced diet can help, just as it does with a wide range of health-related issues. Also, you should look to get into a proper skincare routine. Another common issue which can affect everyone is sun damage, so you need to be careful when you are exposed to UV rays. Make sure that you wear sunscreen with a high SPF rating. Remember, you can still suffer from sun damage during cloudy weather and even through windows. Be careful not to damage the touch receptors on your hands if you can help it. Some simple things that you can do include taking extra care when you are using sharp knives, wearing thermal gloves when handling hot items around the kitchen, and placing safety guards on your tools.
When you are young, you tend not to think about any of your senses becoming damaged and impacting your quality of life. But the thing about them is that once they are affected, it is very difficult or impossible to get them to the way they once were again. A lot of the advice listed above is all fairly common sense and easy to follow, but it is all still worth taking note of so you can enjoy your five senses working to their highest level for the longest possible period of time. Simple lifestyle improvements are all that it takes for you to be able to see, hear, taste, smell and touch life in all its glory!