Chances are you’ve already observed that you don’t hear as well as you once did. In most cases, we don’t even realize that our choices are negatively affecting our hearing.
Many types of hearing loss are avoidable with several simple lifestyle changes. Let’s explore six unexpected secrets that will help you protect your hearing.
1. Regulate Your Blood Pressure
Persistently high blood pressure is not okay. A study revealed that individuals with above-average blood pressure are 52% more likely to have hearing loss, not to mention other health concerns.
Take steps to reduce your blood pressure and prevent hearing damage. See a doctor right away and never dismiss your high blood pressure. Blood pressure management includes proper diet, exercise, stress management, and following your doctor’s advice.
2. Quit Smoking
There are plenty of reasons to quit smoking, here’s another: Smokers are 15% more likely to develop hearing loss. Even more alarming: Individuals who are regularly subjected to second-hand smoke are 28% more likely to develop hearing issues. Even if you leave the room, smoke hangs around for long periods of time with harmful repercussions.
Consider safeguarding your hearing, if you smoke, by quitting. If you spend time with a smoker, take measures to decrease your exposure to second-hand smoke.
3. Keep Your Diabetes in Check
One in four adults is either pre-diabetic or diabetic. A pre-diabetic person is highly likely to get diabetes within 5 years unless they make significant lifestyle changes.
High blood sugar damages blood vessels, which makes it very hard for them to efficiently transport nutrients. A diabetic person is more than two times as likely to cope with hearing loss compared to a non-diabetic person.
If you suffer from diabetes, safeguard your hearing by taking the proper steps to manage it. If you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, safeguard your hearing by making lifestyle changes to prevent it.
4. Lose Some Weight
This isn’t about body image or feeling good about yourself. It’s about your health. Hearing loss and other health problems increase as your Body Mass Index (BMI) rises. A slightly obese woman (with a 30 to 34 BMI) has a 17% increased risk of developing hearing loss. A moderately obese person has a 25% chance of hearing loss if they have a BMI of 40.
Take measures to lose that excess weight. Your life can be prolonged and your hearing can be safeguarded by something as simple as walking for 30 minutes each day.
5. Don’t Overuse OTC Drugs
Hearing impairment can be the outcome of some over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The danger increases when these medicines are taken regularly over prolonged periods of time.
Common over-the-counter drugs that affect hearing include aspirin, NSAIDs (like naproxen, ibuprofen), and acetaminophen. Take these drugs moderately and consult your doctor if you’re using them on a regular basis.
Studies demonstrate that you’ll most likely be okay if you’re taking these medications occasionally in the recommended doses. The danger of hearing loss increases up to 40% for men, however, when these medicines are used on a daily basis.
Always follow your doctor’s orders. But if you’re using these medications each day to deal with chronic pain or thin your blood, speak with your doctor about lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your dependence on OTC drugs.
6. Eat More Broccoli
Broccoli is packed with iron along with essential nutrients such as vitamins C and K. Iron is vital to blood circulation and a healthy heart. Iron helps your blood transport oxygen and nutrients to cells to keep them healthy and nourished.
For vegetarians or individuals who don’t eat meat very often, eating a sufficient amount of plant-based iron is essential. 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 studied over 300,000 individuals. Individuals who have anemia (extreme iron deficiency) are two times as likely, according to this research, to experience sensorineural hearing loss than people who have typical iron concentrations. Age-related irreversible hearing loss is what the technical term “sensorineural hearing loss” refers to.
Sound is picked up and sent to the brain by fragile little hairs in the inner ear which resonate with the frequency and volume of that sound. If an iron deficiency or poor circulation causes these delicate hairs to die they will never grow back.
You’re never too young to have your hearing examined, so don’t wait until it’s too late. Implement these steps into your life and reduce hearing loss.