AirPods improve your experience since you get to listen to music without wires criss-crossing your neck. With this device, you will enjoy convenience and flexibility without compromising on quality music. Despite this, thousands of users have taken it to Apple forums, Reddit, and other online platforms complaining of headaches due to using AirPods.
So, can wearing AirPods cause headaches? Like any other earphones, AirPods can cause headaches when you place them too deep into your ears, play loud music, or wear them for too long. Even then, these effects should be temporary, and depending on your sensitivity, the effects may be mild to severe. Bluetooth radiation is another factor attached to the severe headache from these devices, but there is no evidence yet that the radiation from the AirPods is harmful to human beings.
With many arguments revolving around whether wearing pods causes headaches, this guide will give you a detailed explanation on whether this can happen and how to prevent or reduce the effects. It will also help you know if earbuds can cause headaches and what AirPods do to your brain. Read the rest of the sections for more details.
Despite its popularity since its release in 2016, Apple AirPods are also receiving criticism, with users complaining of headaches when using them. Read on to understand whether this is true and whether you can remedy it should you fall victim.
You can get a headache if you wear your AirPods for too long, place them too deep in your ears, or play very loud music. This effect will vary among different users depending on their sensitivity. In addition, using your AirPods under certain humidity levels, temperature, and atmospheric pressure may also contribute to the headache.
With thousands of complaints from online users, the percentage that suffers from headaches after using AirPods is rather small compared to the millions of sales Apple makes on its AirPods. However, one cannot ignore this percentage, and I will explain each possible cause and solution in detail to ensure your comfort during use.
Unlike headphones that rest on your ears, hence no pressure, AirPods will pressure your ear canal and cause headaches. Placing your AirPods incorrectly for too long will also cause a headache, which is why you should spend less time listening to podcasts, music, or meetings with AirPods on your ears to reduce the effects from prolonged exposure.
The AirPods are designed in such a way that they fit perfectly in your ears without falling, which is another factor that can cause or worsen an existing headache. With such a fit, your AirPods will block air movement in and out of your ears.
The result is pressure build-up which, if unresolved, can cause headaches. Luckily, you can resolve this by taking off your AirPods periodically to release the pressure. You should also avoid placing them too tightly into your ears to alleviate pressure.
Your head could also ache due to EMF radiation emitted by the AirPods sitting close to your brain. Using a quality EMF meter will inform you how quickly your AirPods emit radiation. Headaches are a common symptom of EMF exposure.
While it may be most common in individuals from electro-hypersensitivity (EHS), persons using cellphones, Bluetooth headphones, and laptops will also suffer. The effects of this radiation could be minor to temporary.
While the above explains the possible causes of headaches when using AirPods, most people will not experience any problems. However, if you are among the few who do, you can practice some safe activities, including fitting the AirPods snugly into your ears, using earplugs to reduce pressure, taking a break every hour to rest your ears, and lowering the volume of the music.
If you still experience headaches from using AirPods, you can try a few remedies to get relief. This includes taking over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or aspirin, but you should read the instructions before doing so.
You can also drink plenty of water to promote blood circulation. Taking a hot shower will also promote blood circulation and reduce the tension on the nerves in your head. However, you should not shower with your AirPods on as this is not safe.
You can also get a head massage by rubbing the sides of your head in a circular motion. A head and neck massage will also relieve your body tension, hence the headache. Lastly, consider taking in some fresh air by going for a nature walk.
This activity will distract you from the pain, improve your muscles’ oxygen supply, and relieve the headache. A short nap may also be a lifesaver and while napping, remove your AirPods to relieve the headache. If you experience constant headaches when using AirPods, you can also switch to the wired variants.
Besides headaches, you should also beware of other side effects that AirPods could cause, including Tinnitus, a ringing noise in one or both ears. Tinnitus is caused by prolonged exposure to loud noise, not to mention it as a side effect from AirPods.
When using AirPods, you are likely to turn up the volume, which will affect your ears and cause headaches due to the noise. Since AirPods sit outside your ear canal, their noise isolation feature is poor and will affect hearing clarity.
This explains the temptation to turn up the volume, something that will threaten your ear health. The poor noise-canceling feature explains why you will still hear your colleagues talking around you and other external noise while using your AirPods.
Luckily, you can buy the AirPods Pro if you want to enjoy the noise cancellation feature, but you should note that this feature will not be effective in lowering loud noises such as wailing babies. If you experience Tinnitus from listening to loud music, reduce the volume or take breaks every hour.
If, after using the remedies I have recommended and you are still experiencing headaches from using AirPods, you can explore other alternatives and enjoy your podcasts, calls, or music. These include the traditional padded headphones, which will cause less strain to your ears.
The traditional padded headphones feature an experience similar to using AirPods. However, since their attachment features a wire or headband, they will be more comfortable on your ears, hence a better option if you experience regular headaches using AirPods.
Can Using Earbuds Cause Headaches?
People use earbuds for different purposes, including listening to music, podcasts and attending zoom, google meet, and skype meetings. For the younger generation, earbuds are an everyday engagement, and you will find that most have them on for a better part of their day. While these devices offer convenience, they can wreak havoc on your mind and body.
Excessive use of your earbuds will cause headaches. If the earbuds fit tightly, they will put pressure on the temporal bone of your skull, stimulate your cutaneous nerves, resulting in headaches. Other factors that may cause your earbuds to cause headaches include placing them too deep into your ears or using them for a prolonged time. As such, you should exercise precaution just like with AirPods for a smooth user experience.
Ideally, wireless earbuds should create a gentle seal between the ear canal and the headphone surface. As such, you should not place the earbud and its tip inside the ear canal. Wearing your earbuds this way will cause your eardrums to vibrate and cause headaches. A correct insertion technique will solve this problem. To insert your earbud, pull your earlobe down slightly, then insert the earbud and turn the long side down to rest it on your earlobe.
Since prolonged earbud use can cause headaches, you should take healthy breaks in between. Your ear cartilage is not meant to hold things for hours at a time, and you should not stretch it beyond 90 minutes. Thus, after ninety minutes, remove your earbuds and massage your ears gently, then let them rest for about ten minutes before reinserting them.
If you still feel the strain, you can extend the rest to relax your ears. In severe headaches using earbuds, consider alternatives such as headphones that do not strain your ears from prolonged use.
What Do AirPods Do To Your Brain?
AirPods are slowly replacing wired earphones and headphones with their domination at over 60% in the industry. However, like any other product, there are controversies around its safety to users. Read on for the facts surrounding its use to ensure your safety.
According to scientists and public health officials, the claims that AirPods could damage your brain lack merit. While radiation is a factor associated with brain damage, the one emitted by AirPods and other Bluetooth devices is so low that researchers are still on the lookout for its long-term effects. This is after the unfortunate spread of misinformation around this issue, with many stating that the Bluetooth frequencies from AirPods have harmful radiation.
The above misinformation on AirPods, sparked by a viral video on TikTok in 2020, spread as one of the users claimed that the AirPods sit on an individual’s skull, emitting low-frequency radiation that cooks the brain. Another popular video on Facebook backed up this claim, suggesting that the radiation from the AirPods could even cause cancer.
Facebook, later on, flagged the video as false information and linked a report from Reuters, which highlighted the absence of evidence supporting such claims. The report also added input from research studies, scientists, and health experts on this subject matter.
Bluetooth earbuds, including AirPods, release less radiation than cell phones. Health experts still warn that more research is necessary to examine their effects on the brain given their proximity during use.
As such, if you want to be safe, it is advisable to minimize using Bluetooth earbuds or holding your phone to your ears for longer periods. You may also opt to use the speakerphone function for calls and the speakers for music to reduce electromagnetic exposure, especially if you are hypersensitive.
According to scientists, the potential risks of chronic radiation exposure are neurological disorders, genetic analysis, reproductive issues, and cancer. There is also substantial research on the health risks of EMS.
However, the effects of long-term exposure from AirPods are still very low. In addition to emissions, the impact of radiation also includes the specific absorption rate (SAR) absorbed by the body from the device. The SAR is also useful in determining how much radiation seeps into our bodies.
While the above facts about radiation from some commonly used devices are fatal, you need not worry about your safety when using Apple’s AirPods. Apple’s response to Reuters is an assurance that their devices are safe to users despite the amount of time they spend on them.
According to Apple, their AirPods meet all radio frequency exposure limits and guidelines, not to mention that the AirPods and AirPods Pro are over two times below the recommended limits for radiofrequency exposure, hence very safe.
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) sets a SAR limit of 1.6 watts per kilogram. On the other hand, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) sets this rate at 2watts per kilogram. Despite the above standards, Apple AirPods are below 1watt per kg, with AirPods Max having a lower SAR of 0.06 despite its weight.
Lastly, it is clear that Apple AirPods are safe and the non-ionizing radiation from them is too weak. There is also no evidence that using these devices will cause cancer. However, as seen from the above sections, it is advisable to take healthy breaks in between.
Not because the radiation will damage your brain but to rest your ears and avoid headaches. During these breaks, you may consider other alternatives like the speakerphone and air tube headsets. You can also consider a corded landline to make many calls at home or in your office.
Wrap Up
AirPods offer a revolution to entertainment through their convenience. However, its benefits come with some complaints, including headaches and other health threats. For instance, wearing your AirPods or earbuds for prolonged periods will trigger headaches.
These devices fit tightly in your ears and affect pressure balance, not to mention the vibrations they release to your eardrums, causing headaches. To reduce these effects, take healthy breaks between use, fit your earbuds or AirPods loosely into your ears and avoid playing loud music.
Finally, despite the online debate on the safety of AirPods on users given their proximity to the brain, you can rest assured that your brain will not damage from the radiation from these devices. This is so since their strength is too low to cause impacts similar to other radiation-emitting devices. However, research is still ongoing to establish their effects in the long run.
