When you have pain, you may grab some ibuprofen or aspirin without much thought, but new studies have revealed risks you need to recognize.
Many prevalent pain medicines, including those bought over-the-counter, pose risks to your hearing that you’ll want to consider when taking them. Younger men, amazingly, could carry a higher risk factor.
Pain Killers And Hearing Loss – What The Research Says
A comprehensive, 30-year collaborative study was carried out among researchers from prestigious universities such as Harvard, Brigham Young, and Vanderbilt. A bi-yearly questionnaire was sent to 27,000 participants between the age of 40 and 74 which included health and lifestyle questions.
Researchers were not sure what to expect because the questionnaire was very broad. After reviewing the data, they were surprised to find a solid link between loss of hearing and over-the-counter pain relievers.
They also faced a more shocking realization. Men who are under the age of 50 who regularly use acetaminophen were almost twice as likely to have loss of hearing. Those who regularly used aspirin had a 50% chance of experiencing hearing loss. And those who used NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) had a 61% chance of getting lasting hearing loss.
Another unexpected thing that was discovered was that high doses taken occasionally were not as harmful for your hearing as low doses taken regularly.
We can’t be certain that the pain reliever actually caused this hearing loss even though we can see a definite correlation. Causation can only be established with more study. But we really need to reconsider our use of these pain relievers after these compelling findings.
Current Theories About The Connection Between Pain Relievers And Hearing Loss
Experts have numerous possible theories as to why pain relievers could cause hearing impairment.
Your nerves communicate the feeling of pain to your brain. The flow of blood to a particular nerve is obstructed by over-the-counter pain relievers. This disrupts nerve signals that normally communicate with the brain, so you feel less pain.
Scientists suspect this process also decreases the flow of blood in the inner ear. This blood carries vital oxygen and nutrients. Cells will die from malnourishment if this blood flow is reduced for prolonged periods.
Also, there’s a specific protein that guards the inner ear from loud noises and it seems as if acetaminophen, in particular, could block this.
Is There Anything That Can be Done?
The most noteworthy revelation was that men under 50 were the most likely to be affected. This is a solemn reminder that hearing impairment can happen at any age. But as you age, if you take the appropriate steps you will have a better chance of preserving your hearing.
While it’s important to note that taking these pain relievers can have some adverse repercussions, that doesn’t mean you need to entirely stop using them. Use pain medication only when you absolutely need to and when using prescription medication, only as prescribed.
If you can discover alternative solutions you should consider them as a first approach. It would also be a practical idea to boost the Omega-3 fat in your diet and minimize foods that cause inflammation. These practices have been shown to naturally lessen inflammation and pain while enhancing blood flow.
And finally, schedule an appointment with us for a hearing exam. Keep in mind, you’re never too young to have your hearing tested. If you’re under 50, now is the time to begin talking to us about eliminating additional hearing loss.
