Damage is probably being inflicted if people standing next to you in a lift can hear sounds booming out of your headset. More scientifically, any noise above 85 decibels increases the risk of hearing loss. Yet blockbuster movies such as Armageddon are screened with soundtracks registering levels above 100 decibels. Aided by the latest amplifier technology, noise levels can hit 120 decibels in some clubs too. For those who enjoy a night out dancing, earplugs should be an auditory accessory.
All sufferers dread the nauseating pain of a migraine.
But women prone to these horrible headaches must also worry about increased risk of stroke. According to a study reported in the British Medical Journal, women with a background of migraines are three and a half times more likely to suffer ischemic strokes - when a blocked artery restricts the supply of oxygen to the brain. Dr. Limmie Chang of the Imperial College, London, and her fellow researchers report that use of oral contraceptives and high blood pressure are risk factors. But it is smoking which significantly raises the chances of an ischemic stroke. Another compelling reason not to light up.