Say what?
While hearing loss is often associated with aging (22% of people over 65 have difficulty hearing the everyday sounds around them), it can affect people of all ages.
And some factors that disrupt the ability to hear properly may surprise some people, including an item that many reach for regularly.
Although it may seem like a problem to deal with if and when it happens, hearing loss can affect your health in many ways by causing feelings of social isolation, depression, anxiety, and loss of confidence.
However, it turns out that our health can also affect our hearing ability, according to Nick Andresen, a neurotologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“Hearing loss is not always caused by aging or obvious noise exposure,” Andresen told the Post. “Exposure to noise is one of the most well-known causes, but it is only part of the picture. »
Beyond loud sounds, factors such as lifestyle habits, health conditions, infections and even certain medications can also contribute to hearing loss.
1. Smoking
Despite its growing popularity, the health risks of smoking are well and thoroughly documented.
And now hearing loss can be added to the list, because not only does lighting increase risk, but greater exposure to cigarettes is associated with more severe loss.
“The exact mechanism is not fully understood, but it may involve reduced oxygen supply to the inner ear and damage from toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke,” Andresen explained.
Quitting smoking can reduce or potentially reverse some of the risk.
2. High blood pressure
Although its effect is more modest than other risk factors, high blood pressure can also affect your ears.
High blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels and hair cells, which convert vibrations into nerve signals, in the inner ear.
Reduced blood flow also decreases the amount delivered to the cochlea, the hearing organ in the inner ear, which can lead to gradual or sudden hearing loss.
3. NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are a common pharmacy treatment to relieve pain and reduce fever.
They can also contribute to hearing loss if used “regularly for many years or in doses above recommendations,” according to Andresen.
Although the exact mechanism is not fully understood, a higher dose could damage the auditory neurons that transmit sound signals from the ear to the brain.
An aspirin overdose can also cause temporary hearing loss and tinnitus, a condition that causes ringing or ringing in the ears.
“However, these effects are usually short-lived and disappear when the drug is eliminated from the body,” Andresen added, while NSAIDs used at recommended doses are still very safe.
4. Other health problems
Overall health can affect hearing, especially certain medications or conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular health, infections, and head injuries that damage the delicate blood vessels and nerve cells in the ear.
Andresen also cautions against underestimating the cumulative impact of everyday noises on hearing.
Everything from headphones to power tools to lawn mowers can have an impact.
“It is best to limit exposure to loud noises as much as possible and, when unavoidable, to wear hearing protection in noisy environments, such as sporting events, concerts, or near noisy machinery,” recommends Andresen.
Gn Health
