Aging is one of the most common indicators of hearing loss, and let’s face it, try as we may, we can’t avoid aging. Sure, coloring your hair may make you look younger, but it doesn’t really change your age. But you might not be aware that a number of treatable health conditions have also been associated with hearing loss. Here’s a look at a few examples, #2 may come as a surprise.
1. Diabetes can impact your hearing
So it’s fairly well established that diabetes is linked to an increased danger of hearing loss. But why would diabetes give you an increased risk of experiencing hearing loss? Well, science doesn’t provide all the solutions here. Diabetes is known to harm the kidneys, eyes, and extremities. Blood vessels in the inner ear may, theoretically, be getting destroyed in a similar way. But it could also be connected to general health management. A 2015 study that looked at U.S. military veterans underscored the connection between hearing loss and diabetes, but in particular, it found that those with unchecked diabetes, in other words, people who are not controlling their blood sugar or alternatively treating the disease, suffered worse outcomes. If you are concerned that you might be prediabetic or have undiagnosed diabetes, it’s important to speak to a physician and have your blood sugar tested. By the same token, if you have difficulty hearing, it’s a good idea to contact us.
2. Danger of hearing loss related falls goes up
Why would your risk of falling go up if you have hearing loss? Though our ears play an important part in helping us balance, there are other reasons why hearing loss may get you down (in this instance, very literally). Research was carried out on people with hearing loss who have recently had a fall. Though this study didn’t delve into the cause of the subjects’ falls, the authors suspected that having difficulty hearing what’s around you (and missing important sounds such as a car honking) could be one problem. But it could also go the other way, if difficulty hearing means you’re paying more attention to sounds than to your environment, it could be easy to stumble and fall. Luckily, your risk of experiencing a fall is reduced by getting your hearing loss treated.
3. Treat high blood pressure to safeguard your hearing
High blood pressure and hearing loss have been closely linked in some studies indicating that high blood pressure might accelerate hearing loss related to aging. Obviously, this is not the sort of reassuring news that makes your blood pressure go down. But it’s a link that’s been found fairly consistently, even when controlling for variables like noise exposure and whether you’re a smoker. (Please don’t smoke.) The only variable that is important appears to be sex: The link between hearing loss and high blood pressure is even stronger if you’re a male.
Your ears have a very close relation to your circulatory system. Two of your body’s primary arteries run right near your ears and it contains many tiny blood vessels. This is one reason why people with high blood pressure often suffer from tinnitus, the pulsing they’re hearing is actually their own blood pumping. When your tinnitus symptoms are the result of your own pulse, it’s known as pulsatile tinnitus. The primary theory why high blood pressure can cause hearing loss is that it can actually cause physical damage to the vessels in the ears. If your heart is pumping harder, there’s more pressure behind each beat. That could possibly harm the smaller blood arteries in your ears. Through medical treatment and lifestyle improvement, blood pressure can be managed. But if you suspect you’re experiencing hearing loss, even if you think you’re too young for the age-related stuff, it’s a good idea to consult with us.
4. Dementia and hearing loss
It’s scary stuff, but it’s important to mention that while the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline has been well documented, scientists have been less productive at figuring out why the two are so strongly connected. The most widespread theory is that people with untreated hearing loss tend to retreat from social interaction and become debilitated by lack of stimulation. Another theory is that hearing loss taxes your brain. When your brain is working extra hard to process sound, there may not be much brainpower left for things like memory. Maintaining social ties and doing crosswords or “brain games” could be helpful, but so can managing hearing loss. If you’re able to hear well, social scenarios are easier to deal with, and you’ll be able to focus on the essential stuff instead of trying to figure out what somebody just said.
If you’re concerned that you may be dealing with hearing loss, schedule an appointment with us today.
References
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2018/8541638/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1808869415310016
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3889339/