Headphones are no longer an occasional accessory—they’re part of daily life. From early-morning podcasts to late-night playlists, our ears are spending more time under acoustic load than ever before. But a question keeps coming up in clinics, classrooms, and conversations around ear health: Are earbuds worse for your hearing than over-ear headphones? Let’s move beyond opinion and aesthetics. By looking at sound pressure levels , hygiene , and long-term listening behaviour , we can reach a clear, evidence-informed conclusion. 1. Sound Pressure Levels: Distance Matters More Than You Think The single most important factor in headphone-related hearing risk is the amount of sound energy that reaches the inner ear . Earbuds (In-Ear Headphones) Sit millimetres from the eardrum Deliver sound directly into the ear canal Require lower absolute power , but often result in higher sound pressure at the cochlea Users tend to increase volume in noisy environments (commuting, g...
Nasal decongestants are used by people when they get nasal allergies like catarrh and sinusitis. They are also used in common colds, hay fever and flu. A nasal decongestant aims to shrink the swollen blood vessels, the leading cause of congestion. Specific problems can arise from their consistent use. Some most commonly used nasal decongestants are • Oxymetazoline (Sinex, Vicks) • Phenylephrine (Sudafed PE) • Pseudoephedrine Addiction is defined as the compulsive physiological need for a particular substance. Those substances develop tolerance, and their withdrawal results in apparent symptoms. But when we talk about nasal decongestants, they are not considered genuinely addictive because they do not cause physiological cravings to the person using them. Why Do People Get Addicted To Nasal Decongestants? Here are some reasons why people think they are getting addicted to nasal decongestants: • Rebound effect...