Did you know that high blood pressure can also increase your risk of developing age-related hearing loss?
Age-related hearing loss usually starts to manifest in your 40s, 50s, or 60s. You probably won’t even detect your progressing hearing loss even though it’s a permanent condition. Usually, it’s the consequence of many years of noise-related damage. So how is hearing loss a result of hypertension? The answer is that high blood pressure can lead to extensive damage to your blood vessels, including those in your ears.
What is blood pressure (and why is it important?)
The blood that runs through your circulatory system can move at different speeds. When the blood flows quicker than normal it means you have high blood pressure. Damage to your blood vessels can occur over time because of this. These damaged vessels grow less flexible and more prone to blockages. A blockage can lead to a stroke or other cardiovascular issues. Healthcare professionals usually pay very close attention to a patient’s blood pressure because of this.
So, what is regarded as high blood pressure?
Here are the general ratings for high blood pressure:
- Normal: 120/8o
- Stage 1 Hypertension: 130-139/80-89
- Stage 2 Hypertension: 140 or Higher/90 or higher
When your blood pressure goes as high as 180/120, it’s considered a hypertensive crisis. This type of event should be treated immediately.
How does hypertension cause hearing loss?
The blood vessels inside of your ear and your entire body can be damaged by hypertension. As these blood vessels get damaged, it’s likely that the nerves in your ear also endure lasting damage. Additionally, high blood pressure can negatively impact the stereocilia in your ear (the tiny hairs responsible for picking up vibrations). When these stereocilia become damaged, they don’t regenerate, so any damage is effectively irreversible.
This means that damage to the ears, regardless of the cause, can result in permanent hearing loss. According to some studies, the percentage of individuals who have hearing loss is higher when they have high blood pressure readings. People who reported higher blood pressure were also more likely to have more severe hearing loss. The effects of hearing loss, in other words, can be reduced by keeping blood pressure under control.
What does high blood pressure make your ears feel like?
In most cases, high blood pressure is a symptomless condition. High blood pressure doesn’t cause “hot ears”. “Hot ears” is an affliction where your ears feel hot and become red. Hot ears are usually caused by changes in blood flow due to hormonal, emotional, and other issues not related to blood pressure.
High blood pressure can sometimes exacerbate symptoms of tinnitus. But if your tinnitus was being caused by high blood pressure, how could you tell? It’s impossible to definitively tell without talking to a doctor or hearing specialist. In general, however, tinnitus isn’t a symptom of high blood pressure. There’s a reason that high blood pressure is often called “the silent killer”.
Usually, it’s not until you have your vitals taken at your annual exam that high blood pressure is discovered. This is one good reason to be certain that you go to your yearly appointments.
How can you lower your blood pressure?
High blood pressure is normally a result of a confluence of many different factors. As a result, you might have to take several different steps and use a variety of approaches to successfully lower your blood pressure. In general, you should talk with your primary care provider to lower your blood pressure. Here’s what that management might entail:
- Avoid sodium: Keep the sodium intake to a minimum. Avoid processed food when possible and find lower sodium alternatives if you can.
- Get more exercise: Exercising regularly (or simply getting your body moving on a regular basis) can help decrease your overall blood pressure.
- Take medication as prescribed: Sometimes, no amount of diet and exercise can counter or successfully treat high blood pressure. Although diet and exercise can be helpful, there are some cases where it will be necessary to take blood pressure medication as prescribed to manage hypertension.
- Diet changes: Eating a Mediterranean diet can help you reduce blood pressure. Basically, avoid foods like red meats and eat more fruits and vegetables.
You and your primary care provider will formulate a treatment plan to deal with your blood pressure. Can you reverse any hearing loss brought on by high blood pressure? The answer depends. You might be able to rejuvenate your hearing to some degree by lowering your blood pressure, according to some evidence. But at least some of the damage will likely be irreversible.
Your hearing will have a better chance of recuperating if you treat your blood pressure promptly.
Safeguarding your hearing
While lowering your blood pressure can undoubtedly be good for your health (and your hearing), there are other ways you can safeguard your hearing. Here are a few ways:
- Talk to us: Getting your hearing screened regularly can help you protect your hearing and identify any hearing loss early.
- Wear hearing protection: Earmuff, earplugs, and even noise canceling headphones can help you protect your hearing.
- Avoiding loud venues and events: Try to steer clear of overly loud noises when you can, as these noises can cause damage to your ears. If you absolutely need to be in a setting with overly loud noise, at least minimize your exposure time.
We can help you preserve your hearing into the future, so book an appointment as soon as possible.
