Here’s What You Need To Know About Sleeping With Ear Plugs

sleeping with ear plugs

America has a sleep problem, especially busy business professionals and entrepreneurs. More than a third of all U.S. citizens sleep less than seven hours a night, and nearly half feel sleepy during the day for at least half of the week. So how can we improve the quality of our sleep? Ear plugs may well be the answer to improved sleeping – and here is why. 

Types Of Ear Plug Products

Ear plugs come in various different shapes and sizes, with different materials conferring different benefits and effects. The most common kind of earplug, the kind you’ll see most often on drugstore shelves, is the foam earplug. These are largely made either with PVC or Poly-Urethane (otherwise known as memory foam), and expand to fill the space in your ear and block out sound. These ear plugs tend to be single-use, but can be used more than once if looked after carefully. 

If you spend a little more money, you can find conical silicone ear plugs; these do not expand, but are push-fit, with ribs to keep them secure in your ear. These are particularly popular with those who work regularly in loud environments such as music venues – they are long-lasting, and despite cutting out a lot of noise do not muffle higher frequencies as completely, meaning you can still understand people around you. 

You can also buy personalized, molded ear plugs, which are designed to fit your ear perfectly. You can get your hands on these by booking in with a hearing care specialist and asking for advice with regard to ear plugs. These are specialist plugs, designed to eliminate any space and efficiently mitigate outside noise. 

The Benefits Of Sleeping With Ear Plugs 

The major benefit of using ear plugs while you sleep is in the quality of your sleep. Wearing ear plugs makes you less susceptible to stirring as a result of sounds or sudden noises in your house or neighborhood, meaning you’re less likely to have any crucial sleeping processes like REM (rapid eye movement) interrupted, ultimately improving your quality of sleep. 

Sleep has been linked to a number of very important factors with regard to your brain and body; sleep regulates your digestion, allows your muscles to heal and develop, consolidates short- and long-term memory and and even regulates your blood pressure. Poor sleep has been linked to depression, obesity and even stroke risk, while sleeping well improves your concentration and energy levels. 

Potential Side-Effects 

One of the only negatives of sleeping with ear plugs in is that repeatedly plugging your ears can result in a build-up of wax, which usually migrates out of the ear canal via the vellus hairs in your ear. If too much wax builds up, it can capture dirt and eventually press against your ear drum, causing discomfort. Regular doctor’s visits can keep this at bay, as well as good hygiene. 

How To Use Ear Plugs 

Ear plugs are easy and intuitive to use, and it is very difficult to hurt yourself in the installation of an ear plug. If using foam plugs, roll them lengthways between your finger to compress them into a narrow cylinder, then insert them and allow them to expand to fit. Conical plugs should be inserted as described by their manufacturer. Foam plugs should be kept clean and discarded when they start to discolor. Keeping your ear plugs clean and replacing them when needed will help ensure you stay healthy long-term as you improve your quality of sleep!

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