You’ve most likely already noticed that your hearing is failing. Usually, we don’t even realize that our decisions are negatively affecting our hearing.
With a few simple lifestyle changes, many kinds of hearing loss can be avoided. What follows are 6 tips that will help you protect your hearing.
1. Regulate Your Blood Pressure
Persistently high blood pressure is not good. A study found 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 problems also.
Prevent injury to your hearing by taking measures to reduce your blood pressure. Consult a doctor right away and never disregard your high blood pressure. Management of blood pressure includes correct diet, exercise, stress management, and following your doctor’s advice.
2. Quit Smoking
Here’s another reason to quit: Hearing loss is 15% more likely to affect smokers. What’s even more surprising is that there’s a 28% higher chance of someone experiencing hearing issues if they are regularly subjected to second-hand smoke. Even if you leave the room, smoke remains for long periods of time with harmful consequences.
If you’re a smoker, protect your hearing and consider quitting. If you hang out with a smoker, take steps to reduce your exposure to second-hand smoke.
3. Keep Your Diabetes Under Control
Diabetes or pre-diabetes affects one in four adults. A pre-diabetic individual is extremely likely to develop diabetes within 5 years unless they make serious lifestyle changes.
High blood sugar damages blood vessels, which makes it very difficult for them to efficiently transport nutrients. A diabetic individual is more than twice as likely to experience hearing loss compared to a non-diabetic individual.
If you have diabetes, protect your hearing by taking the correct steps to manage it. If you are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes, safeguard your hearing by making lifestyle changes to prevent it.
4. Lose Some Weight
This is more about your health than feeling good about how you look. As your Body Mass Index (BMI) goes up, so does your possibility of hearing loss and other health problems. The chance of developing hearing loss rises by 17% for a mildly obese woman with a BMI of 30 to 34. For someone with a BMI of 40 (moderate obesity), the risk rises to 25%.
Take measures to lose that excess weight. Something as basic as walking for 30 minutes each day can lower your risk of hearing loss and prolong your life.
5. OTC Medicines Shouldn’t be Overused
Some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can lead to hearing loss. The more frequently these medicines 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 drugs sparingly and seek advice from your doctor if you’re using them on a regular basis.
Studies show that you’ll most likely be fine if you’re taking these medications periodically in the suggested doses. Taking them every day, however, raises the chance of hearing loss by up to 40% for men.
Your doctor’s advice should always be implemented. But if you’re taking these medications every day to manage chronic pain or thin your blood, talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes you can implement to reduce your dependence on OTC drugs.
6. Eat More Broccoli
Broccoli is packed with nutrients and vitamins such as C and K and also is high in iron. Iron is integral to a healthy heart and proper blood circulation. Oxygen and nutrients are carried to your cells which helps keep them nourished and healthy and iron is a major part of this process.
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 more than 300,000 people. People who suffer from anemia (severe iron deficiency) are twice as likely, according to this research, to experience sensorineural hearing loss than people who have normal iron concentrations. Sensorineural hearing loss is the scientific term for permanent hearing loss associated with aging.
The inner ear has delicate hair cells that detect sounds and communicate with the brain to transmit the volume and frequency of those sounds. If an iron deficiency or poor circulation causes these little hairs to die they will never grow back.
Don’t wait to get a hearing exam because you’re never too young. Implement these steps into your life and reduce hearing loss.