How to take care of your ears to keep them healthy and functioning optimally?

The ear is a very important organ for humans. Ears not only function to hear, but also to maintain body balance. The ear is divided into three parts, namely the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. These three parts work together to convert sound waves into electrical signals that can be understood by the brain.

However, the ears are also susceptible to various disorders, such as infections, ringing in the ears, or hearing loss. These disorders can have a negative impact on a person's quality of life, such as interfering with daily activities, communication and mental health.

Therefore, you need to take good care of your ears to keep them healthy and functioning optimally. There are several things you can do to keep your ears healthy, including:

1. The ear is a very important organ for hearing and maintaining body balance. They also produce oil that prevents foreign objects from entering them, including insects. However, if we clean our ears the wrong way, it can cause various health problems, such as infection, inflammation, vertigo, and ringing in the ears. Therefore, it is advisable to consult an ENT doctor to clean your ears or ask how to clean your ears according to your earwax type. 
2. Protect your ears from sounds that are too loud. Sounds that are too loud can damage the hair cells in the cochlea, the part of the inner ear responsible for hearing. This damage can lead to permanent hearing loss or sensorineural deafness. Therefore, avoid listening to music at too high a volume or using earphones or headphones for too long. If you work in a noisy environment, such as a factory or construction site, use earplugs or earmuffs to protect your ears from noise.
3. Don't use ear candles. Ear candles are an alternative method that claims to clear ear wax by burning a candle near the ear hole. However, this method has no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness and safety. In fact, using ear candles can cause injury to the ear, such as burns, blockage of the ear canal by the wax, or even perforation of the eardrum. If you want to clean out earwax, it's best to see an ENT doctor and not try methods that are not medically tested.
4. Clean and dry the ears properly. Excessive moisture in the ear canal can be a good medium for bacterial or fungal growth. This can lead to infection of the outer ear or otitis externa. Symptoms of this infection include ear pain, itching, swelling, redness, discharge and hearing loss. To prevent this infection, clean and dry your ears by drying them after bathing or swimming with a clean towel or low-temperature hair dryer. Also avoid inserting foreign objects into the ear canal.

These are some tips that you can do to take care of your ears to keep them healthy and functioning optimally. If you experience symptoms of ear problems, consult an ENT doctor immediately to get the right diagnosis and treatment. Don't let your ears get in trouble, as they are a very important organ for your health and well-being.