Poor cardiovascular health can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, poor blood supply, heart disease, hearing loss and more.
Let’s examine the link between hearing loss and cardiovascular disease and what you can do to prevent them.
How Are Cardiovascular Health and Hearing Loss Connected?
Research on the link between cardiovascular health and auditory function has found a strong relationship between poor cardiovascular health and impaired peripheral and central auditory system function, with the strongest correlation present in older adults.
One possible culprit for the association is the impact of blood flow on hearing. Coronary artery disease, a common cardiovascular condition, can cause reduced blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body, including the ears.
Your ears have small hair cells responsible for transmitting sound to the brain. The reduced blood flow can damage the hair cells in the ears leading to permanent hearing damage. Because hair cells cannot grow back after damage, improving your cardiovascular health to prevent damage from poor blood flow is crucial.
Maintaining Good Cardiovascular Health
The Centers for Disease Control offers the following four tips for better heart health:
- Choose healthy foods. Incorporate foods high in vitamins and minerals, such as fruits and vegetables, into your daily diet and avoid processed foods high in sodium, sugar and saturated and trans fats. Try picking up some fresh greens at Bellevue Farmers Market to help you meet your daily produce goals.
- Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol can raise your blood pressure and contribute to an increased risk of heart disease. Discuss your recommended alcohol limits with your provider, as limits for alcohol change depending on the person.
- Stay active. Physical activity lowers cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and risk for cardiovascular disease. Try adding a walk or run to your daily routine to improve your heart health.
- Avoid smoking. Tobacco cigarettes can significantly increase your risk for heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, chronic bronchitis and more. Try to quit smoking entirely, and don’t be afraid to lean on your friends and family for support.
Taking these steps to protect your heart health will help prevent cardiovascular disease-related hearing loss.
Contact Evergreen Speech and Hearing Clinic today for more tips on protecting your hearing.