American Heart Month starts today! Heart disease is our nation’s number one killer, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about every 25 seconds an American will have a coronary event. About one every minute will die from one. But there is good news: There are things people can do to protect the health of their heart and reduce their risk of heart disease progression.
Overall blood flow affects the vascular pattern of the cochlea. Studies show that a healthy cardiovascular system—a person’s heart, arteries, and veins—have a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, trauma to the blood vessels of the cochlea can cause damage, negatively affecting a person’s capacity to hear.
In a study published in the June 2010 issue of the American Journal of Audiology, Raymond H. Hull and Stacy R. Kerschen did a comprehensive review of research that has been conducted over the past 60 plus years and found that the negative influence of impaired cardiovascular health on both the peripheral and central auditory system and the potential positive influence of improved cardiovascular health on these same systems has been found through a sizable body of research.
This month we encourage you to learn more about heart disease and hearing loss.