Everybody recognizes that exercising and keeping yourself in shape is good for your overall health but you might not know that losing weight is also good for your hearing.
Studies have established that exercising and eating healthy can reinforce your hearing and that individuals who are overweight have an increased risk of dealing with hearing loss. Understanding more about these connections can help you make healthy hearing decisions for you and your family.
Obesity And Adult Hearing
Women are more likely to experience hearing loss, according to a study carried out by Brigham And Women’s Hospital, if they have a high body mass index (BMI). BMI measures the connection between height and body fat, with a higher number indicating higher body fat. The higher the BMI of the 68,000 women in the study, the higher their hearing impairment frequency. The heaviest individuals in the study had a 25% higher instance of hearing loss.
In this study, waist size also ended up being a reliable indicator of hearing impairment. Women with bigger waist sizes had a higher chance of hearing loss, and the risk increased as waist sizes increased. And finally, incidents of hearing loss were lower in individuals who took part in frequent physical activity.
Children’s Hearing And Obesity
Research conducted by Columbia University’s Medical Center revealed that obese teenagers had almost twice the risk of developing hearing loss in one ear than non-obese teenagers. Sensorineural hearing loss, which develops when the delicate hair cells in the inner ear are damaged, was common in these children. This damage resulted in a diminished ability to hear sounds at low frequencies, which makes it difficult to hear what people are saying in crowded places, like classrooms.
Hearing loss in children is particularly worrisome because kids frequently don’t realize they have a hearing problem. There will be an increasing danger that the issue will get worse as they become an adult if it goes unaddressed.
What is The Connection?
Researchers think that the connection between obesity and hearing loss and tinnitus is based on the health symptoms related to obesity. High blood pressure, diabetes, and poor circulation are all tied to hearing loss and are often caused by obesity.
The inner ear’s anatomy is very sensitive – composed of a series of little capillaries, nerve cells, and other delicate parts that must remain healthy to work effectively and in unison. It’s crucial to have strong blood flow. High blood pressure and the constricting of blood vessels brought about by obesity can obstruct this process.
The cochlea is a part of the inner ear which receives sound vibrations and delivers them to the brain for translation. The cochlea can be damaged if it doesn’t receive the proper blood flow. If the cochlea is damaged, it’s usually permanent.
What Should You do?
Women in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital study who exercised the most had a 17 percent less chance of experiencing hearing loss in comparison with those who exercised least. You don’t have to run a marathon to lower your risk, however. Walking for two or more hours every week resulted in a 15% reduced chance of hearing loss than walking for under an hour.
Beyond weight loss, a better diet will, of itself, help your hearing which will benefit your entire family. If you have a child or grandchild in your family who is obese, discuss steps your family can take to encourage a healthier lifestyle. You can work this routine into family get-togethers where you all will do exercises that are fun for kids. They might do the exercises on their own if they like them enough.
Talk to a hearing professional to find out if any hearing loss you may be experiencing is related to your weight. Better hearing can come from weight loss and there’s help available. Your hearing specialist will determine your level of hearing loss and advise you on the best course of action. If necessary, your primary care physician will recommend a diet and exercise program that best suit your personal needs.
