You’ve probably already recognized that your hearing is failing. Normally, we don’t even realize that our decisions are negatively affecting our hearing.
With a few simple lifestyle changes, many types of hearing loss can be avoided. What follows are 6 secrets that will help you protect your hearing.
1. Manage Your Blood Pressure
It’s not okay if your blood pressure stays high. A study revealed that hearing loss was 52% more likely with people who have higher than average blood pressure and they’re more likely to have other health issues as well.
Avoid injury to your hearing by taking steps to lower your blood pressure. Don’t dismiss high blood pressure or wait to consult a doctor. Management of blood pressure includes correct diet, exercise, stress management, and following your doctor’s orders.
2. Quit Smoking
Here’s one more reason to quit: Hearing loss is 15% more likely to impact smokers. What’s even more alarming is that there’s a 28% higher chance of someone developing hearing problems if they are regularly subjected to second-hand smoke. The dangerous repercussions of second-hand smoke are not only harmful, they also stay in the air for long periods.
Consider safeguarding your hearing, if you smoke, by quitting. Take actions to minimize your exposure to second-hand smoke if you hang out with a smoker.
3. Regulate Your Diabetes
One out of four adults is either pre-diabetic or diabetic. A pre-diabetic person is very likely to get diabetes within 5 years if they don’t make significant lifestyle changes.
Blood vessels that are damaged by high blood sugar don’t effectively transport nutrients. A diabetic person is more than two times as likely to cope with hearing loss compared to a non-diabetic individual.
If you have diabetes, safeguard your hearing by taking the proper steps to control it. If you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, protect your hearing by making lifestyle changes to prevent it.
4. Lose Some Weight
This isn’t about body image or feeling great about yourself. It’s about your health. As your Body Mass Index (BMI) goes up, so does your possibility of hearing loss and other health conditions. The chance of getting hearing loss rises by 17% for a slightly obese woman with a BMI of 30 to 34. For someone with a BMI of 40 (moderate obesity), the risk increases to 25%.
Work to eliminate some of that excess weight. Your life can be prolonged and your hearing can be protected by something as basic as walking for 30 minutes every day.
5. OTC Medicines Shouldn’t be Overused
Hearing impairment can be the consequence of some over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The more frequently these medications are taken over a prolonged period of time, the higher the risk.
Medicines like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin are known to trigger hearing loss. Take these medications sparingly and consult your doctor if you’re taking them regularly.
If you’re using the recommended dose for the occasional headache, studies suggest you’ll probably be fine. Taking them daily, however, raises the chance of hearing loss by as much as 40% for men.
Your doctor’s orders should always be implemented. Your doctor may be able to suggest some lifestyle changes that will decrease your dependence on these medicines if you are taking them every day.
6. Eat More Broccoli
Broccoli is loaded with iron in addition to essential nutrients including vitamins C and K. Iron is integral to a healthy heart and proper blood circulation. Iron helps your blood carry nutrients and oxygen to cells to keep them healthy and nourished.
If you’re a vegetarian or eat very little meat, it’s critical that you consume enough plant-based iron. You’re more likely to be iron deficient because the iron found in plants is less bioavailable than the iron found in meat.
Pennsylvania State University researchers examined over 300,000 individuals. The researchers found participants with anemia (severe iron deficiency) were two times as likely to develop sensorineural hearing loss as those without the disorder. Sensorineural hearing loss is the scientific name for permanent hearing loss related to the aging process.
Sound is received and sent to the brain by fragile little hairs in the inner ear which vibrate with the volume and frequency of that sound. If these hair cells die due to poor circulation or other concerns arising from iron deficiency, they never grow back.
Don’t wait to get a hearing exam because you’re never too young. Implement these steps into your life and prevent hearing loss.