If you don’t eat a well-balanced diet and fail to exercise regularly, poor cardiovascular health is only one risk you’ll face. Research shows a link between poor heart health and hearing loss.
The Connection Explained
The reason for this surprising correlation? The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow, so obstructions in the arteries and veins—symptoms of impaired cardiovascular health—can impact the peripheral and central auditory systems, leading to hearing loss. Conversely, when the heart is healthy and the flow of blood is unimpeded, hearing problems are less common.
The cochlea, a fluid-filled tube in the inner ear that translates sound into nerve impulses, doesn’t function properly when damaged or subjected to decreased blood flow. A study of 1,600 patients with a history of cardiovascular disease found they were 54% more likely to experience impaired cochlear function, further evidence of how essential proper blood flow is to good hearing.
What You Can Do
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will not only add years to your lifespan—it may also reduce your odds of developing hearing loss. Doctors recommend taking preventive measures such as eating healthier, losing weight, quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy blood pressure.
Individuals with hearing loss are encouraged to undergo cardiovascular screening to determine whether there is an increased health risk. And patients already diagnosed with heart disease should consider a hearing evaluation by an audiologist. Hearing loss can isolate patients from family and friends, so if you have a history of heart-related illness, contact us as soon as possible.