Smoking tobacco is the most common global public health problem, and several studies have correlated smoking with a negative impact on hearing. Recently, e-cigarettes (vapes) have risen in popularity, raising concerns that vapes are just as harmful as traditional cigarettes. So, how does smoking affect hearing?
What Is Nicotine?
Nicotine is a chemical compound present in cigarettes and most e-cigarettes. It is highly addictive. When it enters the body, it causes blood vessels to constrict, which leads to a cascade of other effects throughout the body: raised blood pressure, lowered blood oxygen levels, dysfunction of blood vessel walls, oxidative stress (a molecular imbalance that damages cells) and inflammation.
How Does Restricted Blood Flow Affect Hearing?
Nicotine’s impact on the body directly affects the cochlea. The cochlea is located in your inner ear, and it plays a vital role in hearing. It is shaped like a snail shell, filled with fluid and covered in tiny hair-like cells. When sound enters your ear, it causes the fluid within the cochlea to ripple, which then moves the hair cells, like plants on the seafloor. This movement is then converted to electrical impulses, which transmit sound information to the brain.
Hair cells need a constant supply of blood and oxygen to function properly. When nicotine constricts the blood vessels for extended periods of time, the hair cells receive less blood, and subsequent oxidative stress damages the hair cells. Damaged hair cells do not regenerate, leading to hearing loss.
Is Vaping a Safe Alternative?
While there’s currently less research on vaping’s effect on hearing than there is for traditional cigarettes, it appears that vaping does have risks. Most e-cigarettes have the same amount of nicotine as conventional cigarettes, so everything above is true for vaping as well.
Moreover, the flavors used in vape pens may come with separate problems. For many years, there has been little government oversight of the chemicals used in vape juice, and while the FDA has implemented more regulations in recent years, it can still be challenging to know what chemicals are present in vape juice. It is known to contain propylene glycol, a chemical that is damaging to the inner ear.
How Can I Prevent Smoking-Related Hearing Loss?
The best way to prevent smoking-related hearing loss is to quit smoking. We know quitting can be hard, but there are many resources available if you don’t know where to start. While the damage done to the cochlea can’t be reversed, you can prevent further damage by quitting smoking and consulting an audiologist. Beneficial Hearing Aid Center can perform a hearing test to determine what, if any, damage has been done to your hearing and create a customized treatment plan with you.