A Link Between Hearing Loss and Heart Health

The connections between hearing loss and other health outcomes are better understood every day. We already know that hearing loss has a strong relationship with depression and social anxiety. Those who have trouble hearing tend to avoid social settings in which hearing will be difficult, including opportunities to connect with their families and loved ones. That social anxiety can make it difficult to engage in public and even in small but noisy private gatherings. Similarly, the feeling of lost relationships with others can lead to depression and feelings of isolation. Connections between hearing loss and dementia have also been discovered. Researchers note that the process of understanding speech becomes difficult or impossible for those with hearing loss, and the lack of adequate sonic information, including conversations with others, might lead to other cognitive degenerative problems, including dementia. Just as these connections with hearing loss might not seem intuitive at first, the connection with heart disease is similarly surprising. Heart disease is the leading killer among men and women, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that the condition leads to around 610,000 deaths each year. Such a catastrophic condition is the cause for preventative lifestyle changes, to be described in a moment. Yet, how does heart disease connect with hearing loss?

A Connection between Hearing Loss & Heart Health

The ears, like all other organs of the body, require oxygenated blood to do their job correctly. When that oxygen and nutrient rich blood is freely flowing to the ears, the tiny hair-like cochlea of the inner ear are able to remain sensitive to subtle changes in the pressure they encounter from sound waves. Yet, when they are deprived of that vital blood, they can quickly become damaged, and the damage is physiologically irreparable. Once the cochlea are damaged in this way, they will not regain the ability to sense changes in sound that are necessary to understand speech and other important sonic functions, such as alerting oneself to danger. Poor circulation, due to clogged arteries or a sluggish heart muscle, can lead to this condition, and a heart attack or stroke can have even more devastating consequences for hearing ability. However, some heart healthy lifestyle changes can prevent heart disease and the associated effects on hearing, as well. The following are some of the ways you can keep your cardiovascular system strong and fully functioning long into the future. Although some causes of heart disease are hereditary, many of them remain within our control. One of the first things you can do to prevent heart disease is to stop smoking. Countless studies have provided strong evidence that smoking is a leading cause of heart disease. As we know, the cardiovascular system does not exist in isolation of the other systems and organs of the body, including the respiratory system. When the lungs and respiration processes are strained through exposure to toxic smoke, they have a chain reaction on the cardiovascular system that can also lead to hearing loss. Beyond smoking cessation, exercise has been shown to have a strong positive effect on diminishing heart disease and the associated hearing loss. For instance, a recent study out of Miami University looked at 102 non-smoking volunteer study participants coming from Ohio and Indiana, ranging in age from 22-78. These research participants were evaluated after riding a stationary bicycle. The study found that hose with higher fitness levels, measured by a workout on the exercise bike, also had better hearing ability, especially among those over the age of 50. Though other research demonstrates the positive effect of exercise on heart health, this study shows a direct relationship between hearing and a healthy heart through physical fitness. A final major way to prevent heart disease is to commit yourself to a heart-healthy diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables are key, bringing needed fiber, nutrients, and a reasonable caloric intake into the body each day. Reducing saturated fats from red meat, butter, and hydrogenated oils can help, as well. High-sodium processed foods are harmful to the heart, as well as refined flours and carbohydrates. With these lifestyle changes in mind, you may not only be helping your heart reach peak health, but you also may be preserving your hearing.

Visit Us at Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services

At Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services, we believe that hearing health is related to your overall health and well-being. For comprehensive hearing health services, contact our team today for an appointment!