Listen to your body.  Get out and enjoy the fresh air.  We all know how important it is for our hearts to be in tip-top shape.   Not only is good cardiovascular health important to be able to enjoy an active vibrant life; it's important for your hearing.  Proper blood flow throughout our body keeps all of our organs functioning properly.  Diminished blood flow can adversely affect your hearing.  Cardiovascular disease can cause hearing loss.  Hypertension is another condition that can damage your hearing.  

Hypertension causes the small blood vessels in your ear to become damaged.  When this happens there is fatty plaque that builds up and constricts the blood vessels.  This constriction will diminish your hearing.  According to the Center for Disease Control (2017), only 54% of American’s that have hypertension have it under control.  75 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure.  That equates to approximately 1 in 3 people.  More alarming, is that another 1 in 3 American adults have higher than normal blood pressure.  They are labeled as “prehypertensive”.  Has your doctor diagnosed you as “prehypertensive?”

A study that was published in HEARING LOSS in 2013 showed the link between hearing loss and hypertension.  The ages of the participants in the study were between 46 - 74.  During the study, it was proven that as blood pressure increases the hearing decreases.  An important aspect of this study is that when the blood pressure was brought under control the hearing could be restored if too much damage had not occurred.  If you have high blood pressure make sure and get a hearing evaluation so that your hearing thresholds can be monitored.  Everyone should have an annual hearing evaluation to monitor their hearing. 

It’s important to pay attention to the “little” signals that your body sends you.  Make an honest effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Exercise and watch your diet to keep your weight in check.  Limit salt intake.  Exercising, whether it's at a gym pumping weights, or taking a walk every day will help to diminish damaging stress.  Walking 25 minutes per day will help to lower your blood pressure. (National Walkers’ Health Study 2016).  Drinking less alcohol will also lower your blood pressure.  All alcohol can raise your blood pressure... but the limit for women is no more than one drink a day is safe and for men, you can have two.  More consumption than that can cause dangerous spikes in blood pressure levels.  Remember... 1 in 3 American adults is prehypertensive...  American’s work hours get longer and more stressful.  Do something daily that helps you to unwind and relieve you of your stress.  Protect your heart and your hearing...  To Hear Better Is To Live Better!