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The Ear May Be a Window To the Heart
A growing body of research shows that heart health and hearing health frequently correspond. There is no definitive answer as to how the two systems are connected or which comes first, but several studies have found a relationship between a compromised cardiovascular system (a person's heart, arteries and veins) and diminished auditory (hearing) systems.
Some experts find the evidence showing a link between heart and hearing health so compelling that they say the ear may be a window to the heart, according to the Better Hearing Institute (BHI).
About 85.6 million Americans are living with some form of cardiovascular disease or the after-effects of stroke, according to the American Heart Association's 2015 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update. It strikes someone in the U.S. about once every 43 seconds and is the Number One cause of death.
David R. Friedland, MD, PhD, Professor and Vice-Chair of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin, said in a BHI article, “The inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow that it is possible that abnormalities in the cardiovascular system could be noted here earlier than in other less sensitive parts of the body.” Dr. Friedland has suggested that hearing evaluations may serve as a screening test for those at risk of heart disease.
Like any other organ, the auditory system requires adequate, healthy blood flow. Hypertension (high blood pressure) and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) both affect the blood supply to one's inner ears and may cause permanent hearing loss.
So, what's to be done? Maintaining a healthy heart, veins and arteries can help lead to healthy hearing.
According to 2014 research published in the American Journal of Medicine, increased physical activity can actually decrease your risk for hearing loss. In addition, a study published in the Hearing Journal in 2002 investigated the relationship between cardiovascular fitness and hearing in 154 adults between 12-82 years of age. The study found a positive relationship between cardiovascular fitness and hearing in those 50 years and older. In each of the three older groups, subjects in the high and medium fitness categories had better hearing than subjects in the low-fitness category.
Individuals with risk factors for developing heart disease such as diabetes, obesity, smoking, alcohol, poor diet, cholesterol, high blood pressure and physical inactivity and those who have been diagnosed with the disease should be vigilant about hearing health and have a hearing test as part of routine medical care.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience sudden hearing loss, unusual tinnitus (ringing, buzzing or hissing sounds in your ears), vertigo or dizziness as these symptoms may be associated with a serious medical event or condition.
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