We’ve long known that eating too much is harmful to our health, especially over longer periods of time. There are a number of health conditions that are connected to obesity. You can add hearing loss to high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes as a possible issue. It’s calculated that approximately 48 million people in the United States, approximately 20% of this country’s population, suffer from loss of hearing, and around twice that number of adults, 93 million, are obese. These numbers are shocking and point to a significant health concern throughout the country.
How Is Being Overweight Linked to Hearing Loss?
Several studies have demonstrated that there’s a link between obesity and loss of hearing. Although researchers are still studying the link, it’s assumed that loss of hearing and being overweight have a relationship because of its impact on our circulatory system. What’s more, obesity is connected to diabetes and high blood pressure, which are also connected to hearing loss.
The inner ears are filled with microscopic hairs that perceive sound in the ear. These little hairs, called stereocilia, require a steady flow of blood and oxygen to function properly. Obesity restricts the blood flow in the body since the heart must work extra hard to get the blood flowing around the body, which means that there is less than ideal amount of blood flow available to your ear. The ears can be irreversible injured by this. Heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes affect the inner ear in the same manner, because all of these conditions negatively effects your blood flow.
Keeping your weight under control is especially worthwhile as you get older since age-related hearing loss and a high index of fat mass are also related. Your body’s metabolism doesn’t work as well or as fast as it did in the past, which is why you should try to create good habits when you’re younger and stay with those habits as you age.
A healthy diet and exercise are great for your general health and your hearing.
Obesity Related Hearing Loss Treatments
It’s feasible 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 examined to identify the degree of your hearing loss. If the damage is permanent, you may require a hearing aid or other device to start hearing correctly again.
If the injury is not that serious, you might need to consult your doctor about initiating a diet and exercise routine to reduce the impact your weight has on your well being before it gets any worse. Your doctor should set up a cardio intensive exercise regimen that will strengthen your general health and get your blood pumping. There will be, most likely, other improvements in your life too, mental health, for instance, since day to day exercise has been proven to decrease depression.
How Can You Prevent Obesity-Related Hearing Loss
diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure Keeping your body healthy can also assist in keeping your ears in superior condition. A plan that can help you attain your goals and that is customized for you can be planned by a nutritionist. The role of the nutritionist is to make certain you’re consuming nutritious foods with the best blend of nutrients, foods that have plenty of iron, for instance, since, you guessed it, a lack of iron in your diet can aggravate your loss of hearing and lead to tinnitus.
Learn more concerning hearing loss and how you can hear better with the appropriate treatment.