But did you know that your lifestyle choices can also significantly affect your hearing health? It’s true! Continue reading to discover how what you do each day can impact your ears and hearing.
Manage what you can for your hearing health
Genetic makeup plays a large role in whether you will experience hearing problems. There isn’t much you can do about it if your parents and grandparents were hard of hearing. You can limit the advancement with some wise lifestyle choices.
Irrespective of your age, if you don’t have a history of hearing problems in your family, it’s a smart idea to take proactive steps to safeguard your hearing and set yourself up for a lifetime of healthy hearing by implementing the following approaches.
Keep your ears safe
Consider purchasing hearing protection if you’re frequently exposed to loud sounds at work or enjoy attending high-volume events. Earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones are a great idea.
Noise-induced hearing loss is caused by exposure to loud sounds.
Encourage your kids and teens to make use of them too. It’s never too early to take measures to safeguard your hearing.
Choose a healthy diet
Make it a point to include the following foods into your diet:
- Fish
- Legumes
- Garlic
- Bananas
- Dark chocolate
- Whole grains
- Broccoli
These foods consist of nutrients that supply strength for the tiny bones in your ears, while at the same time they protect against irregular bone growth.
Be active
We require exercise to promote healthy blood circulation. Try walking, swimming, or cycling.
Doing regular low-impact physical activity enhances the health of your heart and blood vessels, decreasing the likelihood of hypertension and its potential connection to hearing issues.
Given up smoking
The presence of hazardous substances in cigarettes, including arsenic, ammonia, and formaldehyde, can harm the internal mechanisms of your ears and eventually result in hearing impairment.
Furthermore, there is also a connection between this and the inception of tinnitus.
Reduce your alcohol consumption
Having too many cocktails in a short period of time can affect your hearing health. It can lead to impaired hearing, typically referred to as cocktail deafness, where background sounds become muffled. Additionally, it may result in a short-term ringing in the ears.
There is a possibility of these two phenomena becoming permanent. If you notice hearing loss or ringing in the ears, it is advisable to talk to a hearing specialist for an evaluation.
Take supplements that positively impact hearing health
The following supplements are not only good for your general health, but there are studies that link them to supporting hearing health.
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Zinc
- Magnesium and Potassium
- Vitamins A, C, and E
- B Vitamins
Consult with your primary care doctor to confirm their suitability for your needs.
Stay on top of your hearing health with routine exams
Routine hearing tests are the best way to identify any hearing issues or changes to your hearing at an early stage.
Book a hearing test today
If you are already noticing some hearing loss, focus on these lifestyle choices, and schedule an appointment with an expert hearing specialist today.