Did you guys see that Phil and the Leprechauns is coming to
La Jolla next week? We NEED to get tickets.
Does this sound like you and your friends when you were
younger? Would you be first in line to buy tickets and once inside, stand as
close to the stage as possible? Could you feel
the music because you were standing within arms reach to the amps?
When you were young you probably didn’t know that while you
were building lasting memories, you were also causing permanent damage to your
hearing. The good news is that you are now older and wiser. This means, the
next time your favorite band from back in the day comes through town, you and
your friends can attend the concert responsibly.
Ears
Getting front row seats may seem like a once in a lifetime
experience. Did you know that loud music can actually permanently damage your
hearing? It is called noise induced hearing loss and can be caused by any sound
over 85 dB. To put this number in perspective: a normal conversation takes
place at around 60 dB, traffic in Carlsbad can be about 85 dB and a firecracker
clocks in at a whopping 145 dB. Now, to be clear, simply sitting in traffic during
a particularly bad commute
won’t damage your
hearing. Noise induced hearing loss only occurs when something is incredibly
loud, such as an explosion, or you are exposed to any sound over 85 dB for an
extended period of time. Does that sound like a concert to anyone else? Good thing there is an easy solution.
Earplugs! There are a wide variety of earplugs; some are inexpensive and can be
purchased right from a pharmacy and others can be molded to exactly fit into
your ear. These custom-made molds work to block out the dangerous sounds but
don’t distort the music (these would be recommended if you attend a lot of
shows). You can get these earmolds from your local Carlsbad audiologist.
Nose
While most venues these days are smoke-free, there are
(sadly) still some that are not. The venues that are smoke-free usually have a smoking
section right outside the front door. Recent studies show that even secondhand
smoke can pose serious health risks. A study from 2010 found that almost 40% of
all individuals who suffered from chronic sinusitis were exposed to secondhand
smoke. Sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the
sinuses and can lead to facial pain/pressure, nasal stuffiness, nasal
discharge, cough/congestion and even a fever. Unfortunately, the only way to completely
prevent secondhand smoke exposure while at a concert is to check with the venue
before you purchase your tickets. Confirm that they are indeed smoke-free and
where the smoking section is located outside, it should be at least 25 feet
from the entrance.
Throat
Nothing beats singing along with the band at the top of your
lungs. Unfortunately, singing loudly for an extended period of time can harm
your vocal cords. Several muscle groups work together in order for you to
produce sound. Like any other activity, excessive use or misuse can cause
injury. Loud and continued voice use as well as excessive use of the muscles in
your neck can lead to vocal fatigue, increased vocal effort and hoarseness.
These can put you at risk for developing benign vocal cord lesions or even
worse, a vocal cord hemorrhage. In order to prevent this form happening, you
have to stop misusing your vocal cords. Simple enough, just stop signing along
at the top of your lungs. If the music seizes you and you must sing, make sure
you are drinking plenty of water before and afterwards. This keeps your vocal
cords hydrated and helps prevent lesions from developing.
If you wake up the day after an epic concert and feel like
your ears, nose or throat are off, that’s OK. Simple contact your local Carlsbad ENT doctor to schedule an
appointment. They can perform a full
physical exam to make sure you did not cause any serious harm.
