Your heart is the central organ of your whole body. Every organ and system of the body relies on the heart to supply nutrient-rich, oxygen-enriched blood in order to function properly. The auditory system is no exception; there is a proven link between heart health and healthy hearing, and conversely, a direct link between heart conditions and hearing loss.
The Connection Between Your Ears and Your Heart
As we discussed in our last post, the cochlea—the main hearing organ in the inner ear—is home to thousands of delicate sensory cells that are essential to hearing. As it happens, these cochlear sensory cells need oxygen and nutrients to function, and they receive them from blood flow. If blood flow to the ear is healthy and unimpeded, the sensory cells can do their job.
What Happens When Blood Flow to the Ears Is Changed
Take away the sensory cells’ blood supply, and they will become weak and brittle. They may wither away or break more easily, which causes hearing loss. Importantly, cochlear sensory cells cannot heal themselves or grow back if they die, so any damage is permanent.
Some signs that your cochlear sensory cells may be damaged include:
- Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds. Each sensory cell is a specialist in a certain pitch, and the high-pitched cells are usually the first to die off. When this happens, you’ll struggle to hear the pitches those cells specialized in.
- Sounds seem quieter. If the sensory cells are sending less sound information to the brain, it may be perceived as muffled or quieter.
- Tinnitus. Your brain can sometimes be a misguided problem-solver. If it notices that it’s receiving less hearing information from the ears than it should be, it may attempt to fill in the gap by creating its own sound.
Some Heart Conditions That Can Affect Hearing Health
Any condition that alters, interrupts or slows blood flow to the ears can create the effects above. Here are some cardiovascular (of the heart & blood vessels) conditions that have known links to hearing loss:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Conditions that cause an elevated heart rate, such as chronic stress or thyroid disorders
- Diabetes
- Anemia
- Heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
A Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Is a Hearing-Healthy Lifestyle
Because of this connection, we find that living a heart-healthy lifestyle can have direct benefits on your hearing health. Here are some ways to do that:
- Exercise regularly
- Eat a heart-healthy diet: fruits, veggies, whole grains and healthy fats; limit added sugars and sodium intake
- Get enough sleep at night
- Manage stress levels
- See your doctor regularly to monitor blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels
- Drink alcohol only in moderation
- Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
And if you have a heart condition, it’s wise to be proactive about the ripple effects that condition may have on other aspects of your health, such as hearing. If you’ve been diagnosed with a heart condition, call us at Bangor Audiology to schedule a hearing test and determine if there’s been an impact on your hearing. We’re happy to partner with you and discuss the ways we can help manage your hearing health while you manage your heart condition.