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 most likely won’t even detect your progressing hearing loss even though it’s an irreversible condition. Typically, it’s the outcome of many years of noise-related damage. So how does hypertension lead to hearing loss? The answer is that high blood pressure can cause extensive damage to your blood vessels, including those in your ears.
Blood pressure and why it’s so significant
The blood that flows through your circulatory system can move at various speeds. High blood pressure means that this blood moves more rapidly than normal. Over time, this can create damage to your blood vessels. These damaged vessels grow less elastic and more prone to blockages. A blockage can contribute to a stroke or other cardiovascular problems. That’s one reason why healthcare professionals frequently pay close attention to your blood pressure.
So, what is considered to be high blood pressure?
Here are the basic ratings for high blood pressure:
- Normal: 120/8o
- Stage 1 Hypertension: 130-139/80-89
- Stage 2 Hypertension: 140 or Higher/90 or higher
A hypertensive crisis occurs when your blood pressure goes over 180/120. This type of event should be treated immediately.
How can hypertension cause hearing loss?
The blood vessels inside of your ear and your entire body can be damaged by hypertension. As these blood vessels become damaged, it’s likely that the nerves in your ear also suffer lasting damage. Also, high blood pressure can negatively affect the stereocilia in your ear (the little hairs responsible for sensing vibrations). When these stereocilia become damaged, they don’t heal, so any damage is effectively permanent.
This means that damage to the ears, regardless of the cause, can contribute to permanent hearing loss. Research indicates that those with healthy blood pressure readings tend to have a much lower prevalence of hearing loss. Individuals who have hearing loss are more likely to have higher blood pressure. The impacts of hearing loss, in other words, can be decreased by keeping blood pressure under control.
What does high blood pressure make your ears feel like?
In the vast majority of cases, high blood pressure is a symptomless condition. High blood pressure isn’t the cause of “hot ears”. What are hot ears? It’s a symptom where your ears feel warm and get red. Usually, it’s an indication of changes in blood flow related to emotions, hormones, and other non-blood pressure-associated issues.
In some circumstances, high blood pressure can worsen tinnitus symptoms. But if your tinnitus was a result of high blood pressure, how would you know? It’s impossible to tell for sure without speaking to a doctor or hearing specialist. Tinnitus is generally not a symptom of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is sometimes called “the silent killer” for a good reason.
Typically, it isn’t until you have your vitals taken at your annual exam that high blood pressure is discovered. This is one good reason to make sure you go to your yearly appointments.
How can you lower your blood pressure?
High blood pressure is usually caused by a confluence of many different factors. That’s why lowering blood pressure may require a variety of strategies. In general, you should work with your primary care doctor to lower your blood pressure. That management might look like the following:
- Avoid sodium: Take note of the amount of sodium in your food, particularly processed foods. Find lower salt alternatives when possible (or avoid processed foods when you can).
- Diet changes: Eating a Mediterranean diet can help you reduce blood pressure. Basically, stay away from foods like red meats and eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Get more exercise: Getting regular exercise (or simply moving around on a regular basis) can help reduce your overall blood pressure.
- Take medication as prescribed: In some cases, high blood pressure can’t be addressed with diet and exercise alone. In those cases, (and even in cases where lifestyle changes have worked), medication might be needed to help you manage your hypertension.
You and your primary care provider will develop a treatment plan to address your blood pressure. Can hearing loss as a result of high blood pressure be reversed? The answer depends. You might be able to rejuvenate your hearing to some extent by reducing your blood pressure, according to some evidence. But it’s also likely that at least some of the harm incurred will 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 definitely be good for your health (and your hearing), there are other ways you can protect your hearing. This could include:
- Avoiding loud venues and events: Loud sounds should be avoided because they can cause damage. If you really need to be in an environment with overly loud noise, at least minimize your exposure time.
- Wear hearing protection: You can protect your hearing by utilizing earplugs, earmuffs, or noise canceling headphones.
- Talk to us: Having your hearing tested regularly can help you maintain your hearing and detect any hearing loss early.
We can help you preserve your hearing into the future, so book an appointment right away.