Category: Health

If you have taken two hearing tests months apart, you may have noticed that the results were slightly different from one another. While hearing tests are often thought of as being completely objective measures of hearing ability, they are actually influenced by various biological factors within an individual’s body.

Auditory fatigue is one of the reasons why people may struggle with hearing tests. Spending a morning in a noisy environment, traveling on a busy commute, working in a loud office, watching a blaring television, etc. can leave your ears “recovering” from the excessive noise. The tiny hair cells within the inner ear that are responsible for converting sound waves into electrical signals to the brain can become less responsive to sound waves following prolonged noise exposure. These small changes can have an impact upon the results of hearing tests.

Another factor that may impact the ability of a person to hear is the body’s natural rhythm. The body naturally experiences fluctuations in blood flow and fluid levels throughout the day. These changes may influence the hearing of an individual. For instance, the hearing of a person may be different in the morning compared to the evening of the same day. For a Hearing Test Near Me, visit www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/

Other factors can include stress and tiredness. If someone had a restless night of sleep, they may be tired the next day and have difficulty concentrating on the test questions. Concentration is needed for catching the faintest possible beep from the scanner.

These facts do not mean that hearing tests are unreliable.  Hearing tests are an effective way of determining hearing levels in people.  However, since hearing is a changing sense within the human body, it is not possible to measure hearing in a single number.  Therefore, the value of conducting hearing tests over time to monitor changes in an individual’s hearing abilities is much higher than the value of conducting a single hearing test.

Common misconception about what an Audiologist can do for you in Bristol…

Earwax Removal and Management

Compacted earwax can sometimes affect hearing, be uncomfortable or even affect balance. If your earwax becomes compacted an audiologist can remove it for you using a microscope and a suction device (microsuction) or by using irrigation. The audiologist can then advise on whether you are prone to build up of earwax and offer advice on how to prevent it in the future.

Tinnitus Management Plans

Tinnitus – persistent sounds in your ears such as ringing, buzzing or hissing that are not due to an external source. The severity of the tinnitus and the triggers can be assessed by an audiologist and management techniques, such as sound therapy and relaxation techniques, can be provided in the form of a management plan. More information on the assessment and management of tinnitus can be found on the NHS website.

Balance Problems

The inner ear is also responsible for our sense of balance. It is not uncommon for people to experience dizziness or vertigo and in some cases this can be as a result of a problem with the audiological part of the inner ear. The audiologist can perform specific tests for balance and if necessary refer you on to a specialist. In the meantime the audiologist can also provide you with exercises to help alleviate your symptoms.

Hearing Aid Fitting and Aftercare

However, the proper fitting of a hearing aid is not a one-off appointment and an audiologist will fine tune the aid to your individual audiogram, check the earpiece for correct fitting and adjust the settings of the hearing aid at subsequent appointments as needed to ensure the best possible results for your hearing loss.

Hyperacusis

There is also Hyperacusis, or sensitivity to normal levels of loudness that other people find no problem with at all. This can be assessed by an audiologist and treated with a very gradual sound desensitisation program.

Noise-Damage Assessment

If you work in a noisy environment, have recently returned from holidays or a weekend of loud entertainment and are worried that you may have damaged your hearing, an audiologist can establish the extent of any damage and advise on the best course of action to protect your remaining hearing. For Audiologist Bristol, see https://www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/bristol/.

So now you know what an Audiologist can do, hopefully you will have a better idea if you need to book an appointment.

Insomnia is a common sleep condition that can make falling asleep very difficult, or it can be difficult to stay asleep if you wake in the night. For those who have insomnia it can be very frustrating and difficult to deal with, and this can also have a big impact during the day as of course you are likely to feel tired if you are not getting the sleep that you need at night. If it goes on for a while it can have a detrimental effect on mood and concentration.

Insomnia can develop for many different reasons – it often comes as part of stress, bad sleep habits at night, too much caffeine or too much alcohol are a few of the reasons why people can become affected by insomnia. It then becomes part of a cycle where worrying about not getting sleep becomes like a self-fulfilling prophecy and then is a habit that can be hard to break.

In order to break the cycle of sleeplessness, it helps to start forming a regular sleep routine. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day starts to become a habit and sets the internal body clock. It is not something that will happen straight away, but by being consistent and setting the body up to sleep by spending time in the evening winding down, perhaps with a warm bath and chamomile tea, it helps to establish this routine.

Another thing that many people find very helpful, especially if the cause of the insomnia is stress, is going for treatments like acupuncture, at somewhere like this acupuncture Evesham based clinic https://www.purelandsacu.co.uk/acupuncture-evesham and massage which helps to relax the muscles and release stress and tension from the body.

First aid is the treatment given to those who are injured or ill, prior to the arrival of medical help.

The law places many obligations on every workplace. These include stocking a fully equipped first aid kit, appointing a person/people to take charge of first aid arrangements, and providing information to all employees on what the first aid arrangements are. (more…)

Do you experience your hearing getting worse in the winter or at the height of hay fever season and after a transatlantic flight? Occasionally seasonal issues can temporarily affect the ears and be just enough to make a hearing test seem “worse” than your usual baseline. (more…)

Anyone interested in fostering is probably going to want to gather more information. By looking at the fostering statistics, it becomes very clear that there is a demand for good-quality foster carers and that these compassionate individuals and couples perform a role that makes a huge difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

36,000

This is approximately the number of children who enter the foster system every year. A similar number will leave the system. They may return to their parents or to another family member, while others are adopted, leave care to begin adult life, or become subject to a special residence or guardianship order.

If you think you could be a foster carer to a child entering the foster care system this year, find out more from a foster care agency in your area. For example, if you are interested in foster care Wrexham, you could contact saferfostering.org.uk/foster-care-wales/wrexham/.

98,000

This is the approximate number of children in foster care on any one day. About three-quarters of them are in the almost 52,000 foster families that are spread across the UK. Over 57,000 of the children in foster care in the UK are in England

Increased need

In recent years, the number of children in care has gone up by 7%, and the number of children in foster care by 1%, increasing the demand for good foster families. Unfortunately, the number of fostering families has decreased by around 2%.

This means that each year there is a demand for new foster families, no matter where in the UK you live.

NAC supplements have had a considerable amount of positive press in recent years, thanks to their wide-ranging benefits for physical and mental health.

Anyone considering taking an NAC supplement may wish to contact a specialist such as https://www.vitortho.co.uk/supplements/categories/a-z-all-supplements/nac-n-acetyl-cysteine/ for support in getting the correct dosage for their needs. Let’s have a look at six of the main benefits of this wonder supplement.

Increased Glutathione

You may be wondering what glutathione is exactly, but your brain and body will thank you for it. Increasing glutathione levels in the body neutralises free radicals, reduces inflammation and supports mental wellbeing, according to WebMD.

Helps Fight Viral Illness

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of NAC support your body in fighting viral illness, cutting disease progression short and boosting recovery.

Support with Infertility

Infertility can be extremely difficult, and NAC supplements have been shown to increase male fertility in a small study.

Supports Cardiac and Respiratory Health

NAC supplements have been proven to have a demonstrable, positive effect on the heart and the respiratory system. By reducing oxidative stress on the heart and liquifying mucus, patients with heart or lung disease may feel some considerable benefits.

Improving Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition whereby sufferers experience long pauses in their breathing when sleeping. It’s a major stroke risk factor. NAC supplements help with this by improving nighttime breathing.

Improvements in PCOS

Lastly, it’s important to note that NAC supplements can play a positive role in managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome symptoms.

Drains are renowned for harbouring rats, rodents, and other unpleasant pests, which is one of the reasons drains should be properly maintained. (more…)

If you are looking to improve your health, the summer is the best time of the year to get started. We have longer days and better weather so you will naturally have more motivation to start a healthier routine that you can get into and form good habits.

It is easier to get outdoors and do activities too. Whether you want to improve your strength, lose weight or simply improve your overall health, then this is the time to begin.

Being fitter and healthier is something that can really give you a positive boost – as well as improving your appearance it also improves your overall mood, giving you more energy and more motivation. It can also help to prevent health issues long term, such as diabetes and heart disease.

There are plenty of ways that you can get fit – here are some ideas to get you started…

Make the Most of Good Weather

This is the perfect time of year to do any outdoor workouts – from running to cycling, or sports like cricket and tennis, now is a good time to get outdoors and get moving.

Have a Personal Trainer

A personal trainer like this personal trainer Cheltenham based service insidesweat.com/ will be able to help you to achieve your goals, help you to create a routine that works well for you and help to keep you motivated and to form your good habits early.

Eat a Healthy Diet

There are lots of fresh fruits and vegetables available at this time of the year – from sweet strawberries to salads, you can take your pick. Opting for lean meats and fish is also a good idea if you want to improve your diet.

In today’s fast-paced world, anxiety has become an unwelcome companion for many. While modern medicine offers various solutions, an ancient practice is gaining recognition for its effectiveness in calming troubled minds: acupuncture.

This traditional Chinese medicine technique, dating back thousands of years, works on the principle that energy (qi) flows through pathways in your body. When anxiety disrupts this flow, acupuncture helps restore balance by stimulating specific points with ultra-thin needles.