How Your Heart May Be Affecting Your Hearing

February is American Heart Month

This month, we are taking time to focus on the connection between heart trouble and hearing loss!

I’m going to start off this blog with a story! One of my patient’s recently told me that when his heart beats quickly during stressful situations, his hearing decreases. This symptom made his stressful situation even more stressful because he was misinterpreting the conversation! Thankfully, his hearing did restore once the stressful situation was over. However, it proves that cardiovascular health influences your hearing. If you or a family member has a history of cardiovascular issues, you may be at risk of hearing loss.

As an audiologist I always feel it is important to review scientific literature before talking to my patient’s about these correlations. Here are some of those studies in review!

• A study conducted in 2017 by the American Journal of Audiology showed that a number of cardiovascular risk factors affect hearing, such as high levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat residing in your blood caused by eating an excess amount of sugary food or carbohydrates. A high level of triglycerides can harden your arteries or thicken your artery walls, increasing the risk of a stroke or heart attack. High triglycerides are also associated with hearing loss.

• Another study from 2010, which gathered over 60 years of data and focused on heart health and hearing, discovered that poor heart health slows blood circulation, thereby affecting the peripheral and central auditory systems. This change in blood flow could result in devastating and irreversible hearing loss. If you are experiencing signs of heart disease, your hearing may be in danger too.

• Blood flow decreases your hearing by affecting the sensory cells within your inner ears. These cells convert noise into electrical signals that the brain then interprets as specific sounds. These cells require adequate blood flow to function properly. Heart disease disrupts these cells, causing inadequate blood flow and, eventually, hearing loss.

Ways to Decrease Your Risk of Hearing Loss

If you are at risk of heart disease, you can still lessen your chances of developing an associative hearing disorder by following the suggestions below. 

1. Walk two hours a week – Taking a soothing walk for at least two hours every week can show positive results in your body. It can regulate your heartbeat and lessen your chances of developing hearing loss.

2. Avoid Smoking – Smoking can impair the function of your lungs which circulate oxygen throughout the body and power the heart. Smoking has also been shown to increase the risk of hearing loss. Quitting smoking will reduce your risk of hearing loss.

This month, make a goal to keep your heart healthy and your ears safe. If you feel at risk, speak to a cardiologist, your primary care physician or an audiologist about different ways you can decrease your risk of heart disease or hearing loss. At Hearing Resources Audiology Center we always make proper referrals if needed! If you do experience cardiovascular issues and have been evaluated by a cardiologist make sure to schedule a baseline hearing exam by contacting our office 503-774-3668

References:

• Loprinzi, Paul D., and Chelsea Joyner. “Relationship between objectively measured physical activity, cardiovascular disease biomarkers, and hearing sensitivity using data from the national health and nutrition examination survey 2003–2006.” American journal of audiology 26.2 (2017): 163-169.
• Hull, R. H., & Kerschen, S. R. (2010). The influence of cardiovascular health on peripheral and central auditory function in adults: A research review. American Journal of Audiology,19, 9-16.
• Loprinzi, Paul D., and Chelsea Joyner. “Relationship between objectively measured physical activity, cardiovascular disease biomarkers, and hearing sensitivity using data from the national health and nutrition examination survey 2003–2006.” American journal of audiology 26.2 (2017): 163-169.
• Hutchinson, Kathleen M., Helaine Alessio, and Rachael R. Baiduc. “Association between cardiovascular health and hearing function: Pure-tone and distortion product otoacoustic emission measures.” (2010).