Obesity - There’s a better reason for taking a few laps around the block after dinner each night besides the money you’ll save not having to buy a new wardrobe. Being overweight puts a big strain on your heart and it’s detrimental to your circulatory system. Being overweight also puts you at risk for developing diabetes, a disease which is known for destroying small blood vessels – just like the kind in your inner ear that count on good blood flow to keep them healthy. Did you know that people with diabetes are more than twice as likely to have hearing loss as those without?
Smoking - You’ve heard that smoking is bad for your heart health, but did you know it also adversely affects your hearing? The chemicals emitted by smoking cigarettes affect the inner ear’s ability to transmit vibrations. The more you smoke, the greater the risk for damage to your hearing.
Drinking - While health experts agree that a daily glass of red wine is healthy for your heart, a lifetime of overindulging can destroy more than your liver. Health experts believe that alcohol may interfere with the brain’s ability to interpret sound, especially those in the lower frequencies, and create a toxic environment in the inner ear itself that is damaging to the hair cells of the cochlea.
Don’t miss your dentist appointment - It seems funny to think that taking good care of your teeth can actually benefit your hearing, but it’s true. When your teeth and gums are healthy, your mouth is free from the bacteria that can cause infections and swelling. When oral bacteria enter the bloodstream, it can cause inflammation and narrowing of the arteries – and poor circulation is detrimental to hearing health.
Resolutions: stop smoking, drink in moderation, work on healthy eating habits, and make annual physicals, dentist and hearing assessment appointments.
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