Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve stayed fit and (relatively) sane through daily walks around my neighborhood, listening to my favorite true crime podcasts and K-pop songs. One afternoon in the spring of 2020, however, I started to hear a ringing in my right ear. I had developed tinnitus: the perception of sounds in the absence of external sources.

I knew the culprit was the volume level on my earbuds—I often couldn’t hear the occasional car rounding the bends of my neighborhood’s mountain roads. (I had set volume limits on my previous iPhone but didn’t check to ensure those settings would transition to my new one. They hadn’t.) Worse than the noise, though, was the knowledge that I had carelessly done this to myself, especially since I had witnessed my mother’s own struggle with the condition in the past.

I was lucky. Three months after ditching headphones completely, the constant high-pitched tone with a touch of vibrato faded away one afternoon as quickly as it had arrived. However, two-thirds of the estimated 45 million Americans—14 percent of the population—who experience tinnitus at some point in their lives have it for at least one year. Some experience it for decades.

Tinnitus has a reputation of being a curse you just have to learn to live with. Not true, says Dr. Melissa Wikoff, founder and director of audiology at Peachtree Hearing in Atlanta and member of the American Tinnitus Association’s (ATA’s) Board of Directors.

“The biggest misconception is that there is nothing that can be done—that this is a life sentence, and that no one can help you,” she said. “There is no magic pill…but there are so many things we can do to help [you] cope.”

Tinnitus can’t be cured, but its causes and characteristics can be treated—and it can go away. Most importantly, the majority of cases can be prevented by practicing good listening hygiene. Here’s what to do if your ears start ringing one day, as well as how to prevent it happening to you and your loved ones in the first place.

What are the causes of tinnitus?

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: You can pronounce it either as TIN-uh-tus or as ti-NIGH-tus, according to the ATA. (For the record, I am Team TIN-uh-tus.) No matter how you say it, though, tinnitus is a symptom rather than a condition in itself. 80 percent of tinnitus cases are linked to hearing loss, but over 200 other conditions can play a role, including:

• Middle ear blockages (e.g., from wax or foreign objects)
• Head and/or neck trauma
• Sinus pressure (including during snorkeling, flying, or SCUBA diving)
• TMJ (aka lockjaw)
• Medications (including some NSAIDs, chemotherapy, and antibiotics)
• Autoimmune disorders (Lyme disease and fibromyalgia in particular)
• Blood vessel disorders (e.g., high blood pressure—usually related to the pulse)
• Metabolic disorders like thyroid conditions
• Psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety)
• Vestibular or inner ear disorders (such as Ménière’s Disease)
• Some tumors

Every so often, Wikoff sees people with tinnitus who have a serious underlying condition. “The ears are the window to so many other things in your body,” she said. My mother’s tinnitus, in fact, was caused by a fast-growing benign brain tumor near her ear canal. Once she had it removed, her tinnitus went away.

For most people, though, hearing loss is the central factor. We tend to think of hearing loss as a senior problem, and it’s true that age-related hearing loss (also known as presbycusis) affects 30 percent of adults 65 and over and 40-50% of those 75 and over. However, age-related hearing loss often results from years of sustained exposure to noise, and our increased use of on- and in-ear headphones in the iAge puts all of us at risk for developing this damage sooner.

Think of hearing loss like sun damage or CTE: Repeated exposure to loud noise creates temporary damage, called temporary threshold shifts (TTS), that accumulates over time and eventually leads to permanent damage, or a permanent threshold shift (PTS). Each time you leave a loud concert, finish mowing your lawn, or press pause on your favorite workout playlist at the gym, and your ears feel like they’ve been stuffed with cotton, you’re essentially giving your ears mild concussions that, over time, can lead to irreversible hearing loss.

It sounds (pun intended?) counterintuitive that hearing loss causes you to hear things no one else does, as is the case with tinnitus. The reason is that our brains recognize when we’ve lost the ability to hear certain frequencies and create these sounds to compensate. Since we tend to lose our ability to hear higher frequencies first, most tinnitus sounds—you can hear some samples here—are high pitched. Moreover, it’s not just ringing: Tinnitus can also sound like whooshing, buzzing, clicking, or roaring.

While most causes of tinnitus are not life threatening, many of them, including hearing loss, are chronic conditions that worsen without treatment. So, if you have no idea why you have tinnitus, see your primary care physician. Your ears are trying to tell you something.

How to treat tinnitus

While no cure for tinnitus currently exists, there are many ways to mitigate its impact in your daily life, and there are even a couple of treatments that can stop the noise. Treatments fall into three main categories: devices or apps that provide sound therapy, mental health therapies and lifestyle changes, and multidisciplinary approaches that use both.

Sound therapy devices

Sometimes, the solution is as simple as getting a hearing aid. If the pitch(es) of your tinnitus matches the pitch(es) that you can’t hear anymore, a hearing aid tuned to those frequencies can silence or greatly reduce the noise. Wikoff says that 80-90 percent of her patients experience some level of relief with hearing aids.

External and/or in-ear masking devices—some of which can be attached to hearing aids—can also help by masking or drowning out the tinnitus with sounds like white noise.

Mental health therapies and lifestyle changes

Just like any annoying external noise, tinnitus can disrupt sleep and concentration. It can also increase anxiety and depression, according to a 2014 ATA survey of 1,100 people with tinnitus. Studies estimate that people with tinnitus suffer from depression at rates more than twice the national average.

“We call it the vicious cycle,” Wikoff says. “All of a sudden, you hear tinnitus, and then it causes some anxiety, depression, [and] fatigue…and then the tinnitus is worse, because if we’re not getting enough sleep, we’re unable to fight it off the same day.”

Some studies hypothesize that the link between depression and tinnitus is not just psychological but physiological, due to a connection between the auditory nerve and the limbic system, which affects our emotions, memory, and sleep. Any lifestyle changes that reduce stress can, therefore, potentially lessen the impact of tinnitus.

Multidisciplinary treatments

While many patients find relief using only devices or mental health therapies, Wikoff finds that a multidisciplinary approach is necessary for the most stubborn tinnitus cases.

One such approach, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), uses many of the same devices and mental health techniques as traditional standards of care. However, because it operates on the limbic system theory of tinnitus mentioned above, it focuses on neutralizing our attitudes toward the sound rather than masking or learning to accept it.

When TRT is successful, people perceive their tinnitus as no different from any other background noise (wind, birds, traffic, indoor and outdoor chatter) that we filter out as we go about our daily lives. Studies suggest that TRT works as well or slightly better than traditional care methods. There are also some experimental treatments being tested, including non-invasive neuromodulators and electromagnetic stimulation of the brain and the vagus nerve.

Which treatment people ultimately choose, Wikoff says, depends upon their budget, schedule, the severity of their tinnitus, and other factors. While many people anecdotally report improvement after seeking some form of treatment—especially mental health therapy—there is comparatively little clinical research on tinnitus, considering its prevalence. Organizations like the American Tinnitus Association are working on changing that.

How to avoid getting tinnitus in the first place

Of course, the most effective treatment remains prevention. This axiom applies not only to people who have never had tinnitus but also temporary tinnitus sufferers like me, who can prevent further hearing damage.

Because so many tinnitus cases are related to noise exposure, it’s important to establish healthy hearing habits by using products designed to protect your hearing—and using them correctly, so that as little sound as possible leaks out.

Parents should teach children healthy listening habits early. Just as you limit screen time, limit headphone time whenever possible. One metric is the 60-60 rule: 60 minutes per day at 60 percent of a device’s maximum volume. When you can’t limit headphone use (such as for virtual classes), Wikoff suggests purchasing volume-limited headphones. For her own kindergarten-aged daughter, she uses Puro Sound, a company that produces studio-grade quality, volume-limited headphones for kids and adults. (They even make specialized gaming headphones.)

While most smartphones allow you to set volume limitations, the earbuds that come along with these devices leak sound like sieves. As a result, we turn up the volume, thereby driving up the decibel level blaring into our ear canals. So, it’s important to have headphones or earbuds that fit tightly over, on, or into your ears. If you don’t want to toss your expensive earbuds, consider buying customized sleeves, which retail for $100-200. Molded to slip over your standard earbud, they seal in the sound.

If your job requires headphones for hours on end, or if you’re an audiophile who has the budget and desire for the best possible sound, in-ear monitors are the way to go. The costs can range from about $250 to $1,200, depending on whether you get a general or customized fit. If you work in music or theater, broadcasting, or other industries where good hearing is a prerequisite, this investment can potentially protect your livelihood.

For industries like construction or motorsports, those drugstore foam earplugs offer great protection—if you insert them correctly. The CDC has a great how-to website that shows each of the crucial steps.

Concert goers can use concert ear plugs designed to protect your hearing without muffling too much sound. Even with them in, though, try not to stand right next to the speakers.

Get your hearing tested as an adult to establish a baseline

Children often get hearing tests in elementary school, although the frequency and quality of the tests vary among states. Once we enter middle school, however, we’re usually on our own.

Even though the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded earlier this year that there is insufficient evidence to establish hearing screening guidelines for Americans over age 50, Wikoff points out that we regularly test other body parts related to our senses. “Just like you clean your teeth twice a year [and] you check your eyes once a year,” she said, “you should be checking your hearing.”

Some primary care physicians test hearing during physicals, but many don’t. A couple of low-cost and free online tests can give you a general sense of how your hearing is doing: the $8 National Hearing Test (free for AARP members) and a free app called hearScreenUSA.

Most insurance plans will cover a visit to the audiologist with a doctor’s referral, and it’s a good idea to go at least once after you turn 18 in order to establish a baseline. Studies show that many older adults underestimate their level of hearing loss, and Wikoff stresses that the sooner it’s treated, the less it progresses.

She recommends adults over 40 get their hearing tested once every 1-2 years; other physicians recommend every 3-5. It’s a good idea to get tested if you begin to notice any of the following signs of hearing loss:

• Difficulty understanding people during conversation and asking them to repeat themselves
• Increasing the volume level on your electronic devices more than before
• Trouble hearing consonants
• Hearing muffled speech

Don’t stop the music—just be a conscientious consumer

We’re all exposed to more noise than ever, thanks to personal devices. The pandemic has exacerbated the problem, since many of us have been wearing headphones for hours each day in order to work or attend classes from home alongside partners, roommates, and children.

I’ve been able to avoid headphones thus far because I live in a relatively quiet house and walk where few neighbors can hear my podcasts and music playing. Eventually, though, I’ll be in situations where social etiquette and general courtesy require headphones.

Since I already have AirPods, I’ll likely look into getting customized sleeves. I also want to get my hearing checked to establish how much hearing loss I have. What I won’t do is stop listening to the music and podcasts I love.

“I don’t want anyone to not listen to the music, especially after the year and a half we’ve been through,” Wikoff says. “Music is what connects us and lets us escape, [so] we want to find ways to enjoy those things while protecting ourselves.”

Data encryption makes it almost impossible for someone to access a protected file without the correct decryption key or password. Many apps use encryption to protect your data, including Password manager, VPNs, and even some messaging apps– but you should do more than just encrypt the data you share online.

We all store important files and information on our computers and USB hard drives, and if that data isn’t properly backed up, it’s an easy target for snoops, thieves, and even hackers.

Fortunately, there are several ways you can quickly encrypt your Mac or Windows devices. So we’re going to cover every option available for both platforms – that way, you can add an extra layer of security to every file, folder, and app stored on your computers, and hard drives.

Mac

Mac computers contain a built-in encryption tool called FileVault that is available to all Mac users. You can use it to encrypt the Mac yourself or add password protection to external USB drives.

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How to encrypt a Mac computer

1. Click the Apple icon, then go to System Preferences> Security & Privacy> FileVault.
2. Click the Lock button.
3. To choose “Enable FileVault.”
4. Set up a secondary recovery method when prompted. This will help you get inside your encrypted files if you forget the password.
5. click “Keep going.” The encryption process takes place in the background.

How to Encrypt External USB Drives on Mac

1. Connect the USB drive to your Mac.
2. Open Finder and right-click the USB drive name in the left menu.
3. Select an encryption method.
4. Enter the password you want to protect the drive with, then start the encryption process.

window

Windows PCs are a little more difficult to encrypt. While Microsoft offers encryption tools such as Device Encryption and BitLocker in most versions of Windows, these are only available to corporate users. Neither option is available to Windows Home users, who are likely to make up the majority of general Windows users.

We’re going to discuss using device encryption and BitLocker for Windows business users, but Windows Home users should jump down to learn more about third-party options.

How to encrypt a Windows PC using device encryption or BitLocker

1. Make sure you are logged in to the computer’s administrator account
2. Open the Start menu, then click the Settings icon.
3. Go to in the settings menu Update & Security> Device Encryption.
4. To choose “Turn on.”

Not all PCs are equipped with the correct hardware to enable device encryption. However, Windows Enterprise users can also use Windows BitLocker to encrypt drives.

1. Find and open in the search bar of the taskbar “Switchboard.”
2. Go to Control Panel System and Security> BitLocker Drive Encryption> Manage BitLocker.
3. To choose “Turn on Bitlocker.”
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to set everything up.
5. To encrypt a drive on your PC, select it from the device list in the Manage BitLocker window, then click “Turn on” and follow the instructions on the screen.

BitLocker can also encrypt external USB drives:

1. Connect the USB drive to your PC.
2. Open the Control Panel and go to System and Security> BitLocker Drive Encryption> Manage BitLocker.
3. Select the USB drive from the device list.
4. To choose “Turn on Bitlocker.”
5. Follow the instructions on the screen.

How to encrypt PCs and USB drives in Windows Home Edition

Because Device Encryption and BitLocker aren’t available in Windows Home editions, most Windows users will need a third-party encryption app to protect their PCs and local hard drives. There are lots of solid opportunities out there, like AxCrypt, Folder Lock, and NordCrypt, but most cost money – typically around $ 30 to $ 50 a year, depending on product features.

This encryption is well worth paying for, however, and most programs come with bonuses like password ratings, two-factor authentication, and more.

You can also use many of these programs to encrypt external USB storage devices. Some hard drive manufacturers like Seagate also use proprietary encryption methods for their storage devices. The exact steps differ between apps, but the general process is the same:

1. Back up the drive’s files (as you will need to erase and reformat the drive).
2. Use the encryption software to format and encrypt the drive.
3. Transfer the files back to the encrypted drive.

Whichever method you use, don’t forget to save passwords (or other decryption methods) securely for you can access your locked files, folders and drives at any time.

[Mashable]

Photo: SunCity (Shutterstock)

Certain plants like Azaleas and Rhododendrons, like moisture, but they don’t like long standing water. There is a delicate balance between keeping plants adequately hydrated and drowning their roots, which can lead to disease. But you can prevent root rot and keep your plants moist longer – all you need is a couple of sponges.

What is root rot?

Root rot is a disease that affects the roots of a plant when they become overwatered or when excess water cannot drain from the pot. As Elite tree care explains: “Soaked conditions prevent the roots from taking in all of the oxygen they need to live. When the deoxygenated roots die off and rot, their rot can spread to healthier roots. ”

Once the plant is no longer receiving oxygen from the roots, you will see withered leaves, stunted growth, and early leaf drop. And in some cases, suffocated roots can produce soil fungus that infest the roots.

How to prevent root rot

The best way to prevent root rot is to buy it real pot. Plants that love moisture are best in Plastic or glazed ceramic pots to hold back water, but they need drainage holes to drain the excess. Water only when needed and stick to the recommended amount for your particular plant.

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Test the moisture by sticking a finger on it two inches into the ground-If your finger comes out with dirt or something wet, the soil is damp and you can water another day (depending on the type of plant).

How sponges can help

One way to keep the water level in your houseplants in balance is to Sponges in the bottom of the pot. Before potting your plant, collect a few sponges, cut them in half (or smaller, as needed), and place them in the ground. Cover with soil and plant and water as usual.

The sponge soaks up the excess water in the soil and the holes allow ventilation, which prevents the roots from drowning and losing oxygen. Sponges also slowly release water and keep moisture levels constant. As a result, you don’t have to water as often and your plants should enjoy normal, healthy growth.

Photo: JPRFPhotos (Shutterstock)

Not only do humans suffer from memory loss and impaired brain function as they age – it can happen to our pets too. In dogs, it is known as cognitive dysfunction syndrome, or CDS, and unfortunately, many of its symptoms are dismissed as “normal” aging.

Of course, a significant loss of mental sharpness is anything but normal. To get a better idea of ​​how CDS presents and what the treatment is like, I asked Dr. Elizabeth Stelow, DVM, DACVB, a veterinary behaviorist at the University of California, Davis, interviewed her Veterinary Teaching Hospital Behavior Service Program. This is almost all you need to know to keep your pet healthy today, tomorrow, and for years to come.

Know the signs of cognitive dysfunction

You can’t help your pet if you don’t know what to look for. So the first step is to know what CDS looks like. It usually presents with symptoms similar to age-related cognitive decline in humans; the classic characters are used under the acronym DISHAAL. summarizedwhich stands for:

• Disorientation
• Changes in Interactions with owners, other pets, and the environment
• Sleep-wake Menstrual cycle disorders, sometimes with pace or panting
• House pollution
• Changes in activity, either increase or decrease
• Increased fear
• To learn and memory changes, such as failing to learn new tricks and / or forgetting the ones they once knew

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The diagnostic criteria can vary from case to case, but generally speaking, a middle-aged dog with two or more of these symptoms indicates a “high index of suspicion,” explains Dr. Stelow. Some of the symptoms are obvious: If your dog doesn’t seem to recognize you anymore, suddenly sleeps during the day (and wanders around wailing at night), and seems to have forgotten trained commands, he is probably suffering from cognitive dysfunction.

But dr. Stelow tells Lifehacker that sometimes the signs aren’t always clear. “This [sounds] so random, but it’s not like that: if you ever see a dog walk to a closed door and stand on the hinge side waiting for the door to open, assume that it is a dog cognitive dysfunction acts, ”she says. “They just go to the wrong side of the door and insist that the door open there … It doesn’t happen to all dogs with cognitive dysfunction, but it does to dogs that do [this] invariably have [it]. ”

Cognitive dysfunction in cats looks a little different; the list of symptoms is much shorter. Loss of home training and increased vocalizations – “So a cat that walks around the house and cries in front of nothing,” as Dr. Stelow puts it – are usually the only signs cat owners get. Any of these symptoms alone could be reason enough for investigation, but if your cat is doing both it is important to ask about a possible cognitive cause.

Monitor all symptoms

You can’t prevent or reverse CDS, but as a pet owner, there are a few things you can do to help. The first and most important thing is to know what all of the symptoms look like, not just the ones that might be making your life difficult. “We tell veterinary students that the [symptoms] what the owners are yelling into you is the loss of home training … and the change[s] on the sleep-wake cycle … those other things, sometimes they just shrug their shoulders and say, ‘Well this is the age for you,’ “says Dr. Stelow.

Don’t be too quick to write down strange behavior as “just old age”. If you have a middle-aged or older pet, don’t wait for it to poop on the carpet or keep you up all night before you take it to the vet. These might be your only symptoms, but the idea is to make sure you don’t miss any others.

Try puzzle feeders, exercise, and exercise for a mental workout

Exercise is important to pet health, but when it comes to CDS, Dr. Stelow that mental exercise is just as important. Feeding puzzles and toys are some of the best tools we have to keep our pets mind occupied: “Almost everyone should feed their pets with food toys and puzzles anyway – it helps ward off stagnation in the brain, ”she says.

In the same way, Dr. Stelow interactive training, even (and especially) for cats – but for fun, not obedience. Learning new skills will keep your pet’s brain busy and interesting for both of you. If you’re not sure where to start, think of cute or otherwise desirable things your pet is already doing. “It’s easy to sense behaviors,” explains Dr. Stelow. “You don’t think about teaching cats to sit, but it’s a behavior they do.” High fives, handshakes and coming when you call are everything great starting tricks for a cat.

Dogs can of course learn new tricks too, but if you really want to challenge them, Dr. Stelow to get involved in a sport. Your options are almost limitless: agility, scent tracking, musical canine freestyle (also known as dog dancing), dock jumping, dog surfing, disc dog, canicross (cross-country running with dogs), sled racing, and search and rescue, to name a few to name little. Even the restrained dog sport requires a tremendous mental effort, which is exactly what you want it to be.

Exercise and exercise are more than just mental training – they also strengthen your relationship with your pet, which is extremely important for their mental and emotional wellbeing. They can’t get this connection from anyone else: you’re their best buddy.

Change (or add to) your diet

Switching your pet’s diet to one high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) can also help relieve CDS symptoms. MCTs, which are usually made from coconut oil, have been used in Diets for Brain Health for years. The theory is that MCTs break down into ketones that the brain can absorb and use for energy instead of or in addition to glucose. Basically, MCTs (and ketones) provide the brain with another source of energy to power various brain-related activities. which can be helpful for people with impaired brain function for one reason or another.

The same goes for dogs, at least in theory. It’s limited Research Suggesting MCTs-Enriched Dog Foods Help CDS Symptoms. Dr. Stelow recommends Purina Bright Mind because it is available over the counter and is “moderately high” in MCTs. (Higher values ​​are geared towards treating epilepsy and may be exaggerated for CDS.) However, there are several MCT-fortified pet foods out there, so be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian.

Diet supplements can also help your pet, especially those with antioxidants. Dr. Stelow says denamarine and senalife are most commonly used to support the brain. They won’t turn back the clock, but they fall firmly into the “can’t hurt, could help” category.

Do not wait

The cool thing about all of these interventions, from puzzle feeders to nutritional supplements, is that it’s never too late to get started. “Once a dog or cat reaches middle age, it is perfectly appropriate for an owner to say, ‘I’m going to change your diet to something that contains MCTs, I’m going to give you an antioxidant supplement.’ “Says Dr. Stelow. “But when you start seeing clinical signs, turn them into full swing.” She also points out that pet owners often drop out of training and high-intensity games when their companions are middle-aged, precisely when both are becoming particularly important to cognitive health. So keep playing with your older pets: challenge them with puzzle feeders, interactive toys, exercise, and even exercise.

As helpful as special food and training may be, the most important thing to do is to observe your pet’s behavior for a lifetime. This is the only way to tell what is normal and what is not. Dr. Stelow put it best: “Old age is not a disease,” she says. “When you see clinical signs of illness, don’t call it age.”