When we talk about health, we tend to devote a lot of energy and airtime to diet and fitness. These are integral pillars of good health and well-being, but they’re not the only aspects we should be focusing on for a healthy body and mind. It’s also essential to take good care of your eyes and ears to protect and enhance your senses. Here are some top tips to take on board today. 

Plan regular checks

One of the best ways to lower the risk of issues that impact your vision and hearing is to keep up to date with regular checks and assessments. Often, people find that their hearing and sight deteriorate gradually, which means that it can take a long time to notice differences and detect symptoms. Plan regular appointments with your optician and audiologist. Basic tests can flag early warning signs of hearing and sight loss and enable healthcare professionals to spot symptoms of underlying problems, such as infections. 

The frequency with which you attend appointments will depend on your age and whether you already wear glasses or contact lenses or use hearing aids. If you are in your 30s, 40s or 50s with no signs of any issues or a history of hearing or vision problems, it’s beneficial to attend appointments every 1-5 years. You may need to schedule more frequent checks if you are older, or you have existing problems with your eyes or ears.

Embrace preventative measures

Prevention is always better than cure. It’s not always possible to avoid hearing loss or changes in your vision, particularly as you get older, but there are some steps you can take to reduce risks. Protect your ears in noisy environments. If you work in the city, or you have a job that carries a risk of occupational hearing loss, for example, wear earplugs or ear defenders. Try to avoid listening to music too loud if you’ve got the radio on or you’re wearing headphones. Take regular breaks from the screen while you’re working to protect your eyes and wear sunglasses on bright days. Avoid staring directly at the sun and check your blood sugar regularly. Diabetes can elevate the risk of vision loss. 

Seek advice if you have concerns

If you notice any changes in your vision or hearing, you experience pain in your ears, or you’re struggling with itchy or irritated eyes, it’s important to seek advice. Treating symptoms early can prevent pain and discomfort and, crucially, it also lowers the risk of permanent or long-term damage and deterioration. There are treatments, therapies and solutions available to treat short and long-term conditions. Many of us are guilty of ignoring early signs of hearing loss and changes in our vision, such as straining to see objects in the distance, struggling to read signs, turning up the volume on the TV all the time or finding it hard to follow conversations. Try to be proactive in seeking help. 

When seeking help for hearing and vision, it’s important to seek out specialists. This includes audiologists who will be able to diagnose conditions like hearing loss, giving you a better understanding of your condition and how it can be treated. These specialists also help with hearing aid repair and other services that can make your life a lot easier. If you’re unsure where to find a hearing or sight specialist, then you can speak to your family doctor for recommendations. They’ll be able to direct you to a suitable professional.

Most health guides focus on nutrition and exercise but health covers the entire body. We often take vision and hearing for granted and overlook the importance of caring for our eyes and ears. To protect your ears and eyes and lower the risk of vision and hearing loss, follow these steps. Schedule regular checks, embrace preventative measures and seek advice if you have concerns or you notice symptoms or changes in your health.