Did you know that high blood pressure can also increase your chance of developing age-related hearing loss?
From about 40 years old and up, you may start to notice that your hearing is starting to fail. You most likely won’t even notice your developing hearing loss even though it’s an irreversible condition. Years of noise damage is usually the cause. So how is hearing loss a result of hypertension? The answer is that high blood pressure can lead to extensive damage to your blood vessels, including those in your ears.
Blood pressure and why it’s so significant
The blood that flows through your circulatory system can move at various speeds. High blood pressure means that this blood flows more quickly than normal. Over time, this can lead to damage to your blood vessels. These damaged vessels become less flexible and more prone to blockages. Cardiovascular problems, including a stroke, can be the result of these blockages. That’s one reason why healthcare professionals frequently pay close attention to your blood pressure.
So, what is considered to be high blood pressure?
Here are the basic ratings for high blood pressure:
- Normal: 120/8o
- Stage 1 Hypertension: 130-139/80-89
- Stage 2 Hypertension: 140 or Higher/90 or higher
When your blood pressure gets as high as 180/120, it’s considered a hypertensive crisis. Immediate management is needed when this happens.
How can hypertension cause hearing loss?
The blood vessels in your ear and your whole body can be damaged by hypertension. As these blood vessels get damaged, it’s likely that the nerves in your ear also endure lasting damage. The little hairs in your ears responsible for sensing vibrations, known as stereocilia, can also be negatively impacted by high blood pressure. When these stereocilia get damaged, they don’t regenerate, so any damage is effectively irreversible.
So regardless of the specific cause, irreversible hearing loss can be the consequence of any damage. Studies found that individuals with healthy blood pressure readings tend to have a far lower prevalence of hearing loss. Individuals who have hearing loss are more likely to have higher blood pressure. The effects of hearing loss, in other words, can be decreased by keeping blood pressure under control.
What does high blood pressure feel like in your ears?
In most cases, high blood pressure is a symptomless condition. High blood pressure isn’t the cause of “hot ears”. “Hot ears” is an affliction where your ears feel hot and get red. Hot ears are usually caused by changes in blood flow due to hormonal, emotional, and other problems not associated with blood pressure.
High blood pressure can sometimes exacerbate symptoms of tinnitus. But if your tinnitus was being caused by high blood pressure, how would you know? It’s impossible to definitively tell without talking to a doctor or hearing specialist. In general, however, tinnitus isn’t a sign of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is sometimes called “the silent killer” for a good reason.
Most individuals notice high blood pressure when they go in for an annual exam and get their vitals taken. This is one good reason to make sure you go to your yearly appointments.
How can you lower your blood pressure?
Usually, there are a number of factors that contribute to high blood pressure. Consequently, you may have to take several different steps and use a variety of methods to effectively lower your blood pressure. In general, you should work with your primary care provider to lower your blood pressure. Here’s what that management could entail:
- Get more exercise: Getting regular exercise (or simply moving around on a regular basis) can help decrease your overall blood pressure.
- Diet changes: Eating a Mediterranean diet can help you reduce blood pressure. Eat more fruits and veggies and abstain from things like red meat.
- Take medication as prescribed: In some instances, high blood pressure can’t be managed with diet and exercise alone. Although diet and exercise can be helpful, there are some situations where it will be necessary to use blood pressure medication as prescribed to control hypertension.
- Avoid sodium: Pay attention to the amount of salt in your food, particularly processed foods. Steer clear of processed food when possible and find lower salt alternatives if you can.
A treatment plan to manage your blood pressure can be formulated by your primary care physician. Can hearing loss from high blood pressure be reversed? In some cases the answer is yes and in others not so much. You may be able to restore your hearing to some degree by lowering your blood pressure, according to some evidence. But it’s also likely that at least some of the harm incurred will be irreversible.
The sooner your high blood pressure is reversed, the more likely it will be that your hearing will get better.
Protecting your hearing
While lowering your blood pressure can undoubtedly be good for your health (and your hearing), there are other ways to protect your hearing. This could include:
- Avoiding loud venues and events: Loud sounds should be avoided because they can cause damage. If these locations aren’t entirely avoidable, minimize your time in noisy environments.
- Talk to us: Having your hearing screened regularly can help you maintain your hearing and identify any hearing loss early.
- Wear hearing protection: You can safeguard your hearing by using earplugs, earmuffs, or noise canceling headphones.
If you have high blood pressure and are showing symptoms of hearing loss, be certain to book an appointment with us so we can help you manage your hearing loss and protect your hearing health.