Why shouldn't you wear headphones while sleeping?

People who regularly wear headphones while sleeping can damage their hearing over time, risking bacterial buildup and earwax clumping.

Many people use headphones to relax, block out surrounding noise, and help them sleep better. However, this habit does more harm than good. The way you wear and the type of headphones, adjust the volume, and clean your ears... determine the level of impact on this organ.

Impact on the ears : According to the Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) of the United States, sound of 70 decibels (dB) or lower is safe for the ears. People who listen to more than this level can damage their hearing, symptoms that manifest within two hours include tinnitus, ear congestion, and noise in the ears. People who wear headphones while sleeping at a volume above 70 db regularly are prone to temporary hearing loss and deafness. If you use this device all day and night, your ears will not be able to rest, making it easier for them to tinnitus.

Wearing headphones continuously has many potential risks such as earplugs and earwax clumping. Hard, plastic, in-ear headphones can cause discomfort and infection. For people with wet earwax, if the headphones are not cleaned regularly, it creates conditions for bacteria to grow.

When water gets trapped in the ear canal, bacteria can cause infection and ear inflammation. If this device is used too much, the area outside the eardrum is blocked, trapping moisture in the ear. Headphones can also scratch the skin, causing pain and infection in the outer ear area. You should choose headphones that cover the ear, limit the use of in-ear headphones to avoid damage.

Wearing headphones while sleeping is not good for your ears. Photo: Freepik — Wearing headphones while sleeping is not good for your ears. Photo: *Freepik*

Affects sleep : Listening to music all night can wake you up in the middle of the night, the fluctuating noise level makes it difficult to fall back asleep. People with this habit easily have interrupted sleep, forming bad sleeping habits.

The type of noise also affects the mind. Meditation apps are good for relaxing the body and mind. A 5-10 minute soft music helps you fall asleep faster, but the brain forms a habit of working, receiving and processing information, disrupting the biological clock. For good sleep, reduce stress, listen to white noise with a music player. Relaxation exercises, deep breathing before bed also calm the mind.

People who have the habit of wearing headphones while sleeping should adjust the volume to a safe level, below 70 dB. Set a timer on your phone to turn off the music, the maximum time is about 10-20 minutes. Using a music player or specialized audio device instead of headphones while sleeping is more beneficial.

Anh Chi (According to WebMD )

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