New Delhi, Dec. 8 -- Many people slip on headphones or earbuds at bedtime, believing the steady hum of music or a podcast will coax them into deeper sleep. That habit is common and comforting, but it carries real, avoidable risks. Wearing headphones all night can trap moisture, increase earwax compaction, blunt your awareness of alarms or calls for help, and in rare cases, even damage skin and tissue through prolonged pressure. Experts advise weighing short-term comfort against possible long-term harm.

The most obvious danger is infection. A warm, moist environment inside the ear canal is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungi; earbuds pressed into the ear after a shower or during long use can raise that risk. The Cleveland Clin...