Everybody knows that exercising and keeping yourself in shape is good for your general health but you might not know that losing weight is also good for your hearing.
Studies have demonstrated that exercising and eating healthy can strengthen your hearing and that individuals who are overweight have a higher chance of dealing with hearing loss. It will be easier to make healthy hearing choices for you and your whole family if you understand these connections.
Adult Hearing And Obesity
Women are more likely to experience hearing loss, according to research carried out by Brigham And Women’s Hospital, if they have a high body mass index (BMI). The connection between body fat and height is what BMI measures. The higher the number the higher the body fat. The higher the BMI of the 68,000 women in the study, the higher their hearing impairment frequency. The participants who were the most overweight were up to 25 % more likely to experience hearing loss!
Another reliable indicator of hearing loss, in this study, was the size of a person’s waist. Women with larger waist sizes had a higher chance of hearing loss, and the risk increased as waist sizes increased. Lastly, participants who engaged in frequent physical activity had a lower incidence of hearing loss.
Children’s Hearing And Obesity
A study by Columbia University’s Medical Center demonstrated that obese teenagers had about twice the risk of developing hearing loss in one ear than non-obese teenagers. Sensorineural hearing loss, which occurs when the delicate hair cells in the inner ear are damaged, was common in these children. This damage led to a diminished ability to hear sounds at low frequencies, which makes it difficult to understand what people are saying in crowded places, like classrooms.
Hearing loss in children is especially worrisome because kids frequently don’t recognize they have a hearing problem. There will be an increasing danger that the problem will get worse as they become an adult if it’s not treated.
What is The Connection?
Researchers think that the association between obesity and hearing loss and tinnitus is based on the health symptoms linked to obesity. Poor circulation, diabetes, and high blood pressure are some of the health issues related to obesity and linked to hearing loss.
The sensitive inner ear is made up of numerous delicate parts such as nerve cells, little capillaries, and other parts that will quit working correctly if they aren’t kept healthy. Good blood flow is crucial. This process can be hampered when obesity causes constricting of the blood vessels and high blood pressure.
Decreased blood flow can also damage the cochlea, which accepts sound waves and sends nerve impulses to the brain so you can discern what you’re hearing. If the cochlea is damaged, it’s usually irreversible.
Is There Anything You Can do?
Women who remained healthy and exercised regularly, according to a Brigham and Women’s Hospital study, had a 17% reduced likelihood of getting hearing loss in comparison with women who didn’t. You don’t need to run a marathon to reduce your risk, however. The simple routine of walking for at least two hours per week can decrease your risk of hearing loss by 15%.
Beyond losing weight, a better diet will, of itself, help your hearing which will benefit your whole family. If you have a child or grandchild in your family who is overweight, discuss steps your family can take to encourage a healthier lifestyle. You can show them exercises that are fun for kids and incorporate them into family gatherings. They may do the exercises on their own if they like them enough.
If you think you are experiencing hearing loss, talk to a hearing professional to determine whether it is linked to your weight. Better hearing can come from weight loss and there’s help available. Your hearing specialist will identify your level of hearing loss and advise you on the best course of action. If needed, your primary care physician will recommend a diet and exercise routine that best suit your personal needs.