Protect Your Heart and Hearing
February is American Heart Month and a good time to discuss the link between hearing loss and cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular diseases affect the heart and blood vessels. According to the Cleveland Clinic, almost half of all adults in the U.S. have at least one form of heart disease.
Everyone knows that blood flow is essential to heart health but did you also know it is necessary to your hearing? Good circulation plays a significant role in maintaining good hearing health as well. On the opposite end, poor blood flow and trauma to the blood vessels within your ear can cause damage or destruction to the cochlea resulting in poor hearing and contributing to hearing loss.
Maintaining a healthy heart can reduce your risk or help prevent further hearing loss. Many of the things you can do to take care of your heart will also help protect your hearing:
Avoid smoking: Smoking is harmful to your heart and your inner ears. Read more about the relationship between smoking and hearing health.
Exercise: Exercise helps increase blood flow (among many other benefits)! Exercising for 20-30 minutes per day, four or five days a week, can contribute to a healthy heart and healthy hearing.
Nutrition: A heart-healthy diet can help improve your hearing and prevent further hearing loss. Click here to read more about foods to consume and avoid.
Often people think of their heart health and hearing health as two separate issues, but they correlate in many ways. By healing your heart or your hearing, you can heal the other.
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