Care For Your Senses

We use our senses every second of the day to recognise and monitor the world around us, so it’s very easy to take them for granted. However if they are not functioning properly our daily lives and routines become very difficult. Help is available for these potential problems by following few simple tips.

Hearing

Hearing loss is a problem typically associated with ageing - 40% of people over the age of 50 have some degree of hearing loss - but new research by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People shows that half of 16-34 year olds now suffer from hearing problems due to their lifestyle, such as listening to loud music. Amazingly though, 8 out of 10 people have never had a hearing test according to research by David Ormerod Hearing Centres.

Taste

As we get older the 10,000 taste buds in our mouths start to deteriorate, sometimes resulting in a complete loss of taste. Poor oral hygiene and tooth decay can also contribute to this, making eating difficult and less enjoyable, which in turn can lead to malnutrition.

Help prevent this by visiting your dentist regularly to ensure your mouth is producing the right chemicals and saliva required for you to taste properly.

Sight

Everyday up to 100 people start to lose their sight according to statistics from the Royal National Institute for the Blind, with cases ranging from minor reading difficulties to severe sight loss. Smokers are at great risk with a 3 fold increased chance of developing vision problems compared to non smokers. Research also shows that nutritional supplements containing vitamins C & E with antioxidant properties significantly reduce the risk of developing sight problems.

Stop smoking and try PreserVision soft gel capsules. These contain essential vitamins and are available from most Boots stores and pharmacies, priced at £14.99 (RRP) for 60 Soft Gels.

Smells

Our sense of smell not only helps us distinguish objects and substances, but plays a major part in the way we taste and identify with our favourite foods. However it becomes increasingly difficult to use this sense properly when our noses become blocked, swollen such as in cases of hay fever or damaged by breathing in heavily polluted air. Heavily polluted air particles can also damage our lungs, making us more susceptible to respiratory problems later in life.

Keep your passages clear by using smelling salts to irritate the membranes of the nose and always carry a tissue in case of sudden blockages.

Touch

In today’s hectic lifestyle we find ourselves working longer hours stuck at our desks, without giving our bodies the chance to move around and keep active. This lack of body movement can cause poor blood circulation which affects our sense of touch, often giving us a numb feeling in our limbs.

Improve your circulation by taking a brisk walk during your lunch break and try Zinopin Daily, which contains naturally occurring extracts that boost your circulation. Zinopin Daily costs £14.99 for 30 capsules and is available from Tesco and Lloyds pharmacies.