It’s well recognized, that over time, eating way too much will be detrimental to your health. Obesity is related to quite a few health issues. Heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and you can put hearing on the list, as well. It’s calculated that approximately 48 million individuals in the United States, hearing loss is an issue for approximately 20% of the U.S population, and in adults it’s nearly twice that number, 93 million, are obese. These numbers are shocking and point to a serious health problem throughout the country.
How Is Being Overweight Connected to Loss of Hearing?
Numerous studies have revealed that loss of hearing and obesity have a connection. Specifically what that connection is, is still being studied, it’s thought that loss of hearing and obesity have a connection because the circulatory system is impacted. Additionally, hearing loss is connected to high blood pressure and diabetes which are recognized to be linked to being overweight.
Sound in the ear is detected by little hairs in the inner ear. So that they can work correctly, these tiny hairs, called stereocilia, have to have a steady flow of blood. Due to obesity, the blood flow is restricted throughout the body because, so they can get the blood flowing inside the body, the heart must do additional work, which means that there is less than ideal amount of blood flow available to your ear. This can irreversibly damage the ears. Heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes impact the inner ear in a similar way, since all of these diseases adversely effects your blood flow.
It’s particularly worthwhile to keep your weight under control as you get older since age-related hearing loss is also linked to a high fat mass index. In the past, your body’s metabolism worked more efficiently and faster, which is why you need to try to follow healthy habits that you started when you were younger.
Your ears and your general health are benefited by good nutrition.
Treatment Options For Obesity-Associated Hearing Loss
It’s possible that you may not be capable of recovering your lost hearing if it’s caused by obesity, still, it’s always smart to get your ears screened to find out the magnitude of your hearing loss. If the damage is permanent, you may need a hearing aid or other device to begin hearing properly again.
If the injury is not that severe, you may want to consult your physician about developing an exercise and diet plan to lessen the effect your weight has on your health before it gets any worse. Your doctor should set up a cardio intensive exercise program that will help improve your general health and get your blood pumping. You will probably find that other areas of your life also improve, like mental health, since regular exercise will reduce depression according to many studies.
How Can You Prevent Obesity-Related Hearing Loss
So that you can stop obesity-related loss of hearing day to day exercise and a nutritious diet are extremely important. staying healthy will also assist in keeping your hearing in good condition. A good place to start is to consult with a nutritionist who can help develop a strategy that is personalized for you and is focused on assisting you to reach your goals. The job of the nutritionist is to make certain you’re eating the best mix of nutrients in healthy foods, foods that are high in iron, for instance, because of course, a lack of iron in your diet can exacerbate your loss of hearing and trigger tinnitus.
Learn more about hearing loss and how you can hear better with the appropriate treatment method.