Were you aware that your risk of developing age-related hearing loss can be increased if you have high blood pressure?
Age-related hearing loss usually starts to manifest in your 40s, 50s, or 60s. Your symptoms may progress gradually and be mostly invisible, but this type of hearing loss is irreversible. Typically, 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 flows through your circulatory system can move at different speeds. When the blood moves faster than normal it means you have high blood pressure. Damage to your blood vessels can happen over time as a result. These damaged vessels become less flexible and more prone to blockages. A blockage can contribute to a stroke or other cardiovascular issues. Healthcare professionals tend to pay very close attention to a patient’s blood pressure for this reason.
What constitutes 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
A hypertensive crisis happens when your blood pressure is over 180/120. This type of event should be dealt with immediately.
How does hypertension cause hearing loss?
The blood vessels in your ear and your whole 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. The little hairs in your ears responsible for sensing vibrations, called stereocilia, can also be negatively impacted by high blood pressure. These stereocilia aren’t capable of self-regeneration, so any damage they incur is irreversible.
So regardless of the particular cause, irreversible hearing loss can be the consequence of any damage. Studies found that people who have normal blood pressure readings tend to have a far lower prevalence of hearing loss. Individuals who have hearing loss are more likely to have higher blood pressure. The findings of the study make clear that keeping your blood pressure under control can help you prevent the effects of hearing loss.
What does high blood pressure feel like in your ears?
In most cases, high blood pressure is a symptomless condition. So-called “hot ears” are not an indication of high blood pressure. What are hot ears? It’s a symptom in which your ears feel warm and get red. Hot ears are usually caused by changes in blood flow due to hormonal, emotional, and other issues not related to blood pressure.
In some circumstances, high blood pressure can worsen tinnitus symptoms. But how can you tell if tinnitus is from high blood pressure? The only way to tell for sure is to speak with your doctor. In general, however, tinnitus isn’t a symptom of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is sometimes referred to as “the silent killer” for a good reason.
Most people find out they have high blood pressure when they go in for an annual exam and have their vitals taken. This is one good reason to make sure you go to your yearly appointments.
How can you lower your blood pressure?
Typically, there are various factors that contribute to high blood pressure. That’s why lowering blood pressure might call for a variety of strategies. Your primary care doctor should be where you address your high blood pressure. That management might look like the following:
- Diet changes: Your blood pressure can be reduced by eating a Mediterranean diet. Eat more fruits and veggies and avoid things like red meat.
- Take medication as prescribed: In some cases, no amount of diet and exercise can prevent or successfully treat high blood pressure. Even though diet and exercise can be helpful, there are some situations where it will be necessary to use blood pressure medication as prescribed to manage hypertension.
- Avoid sodium: Take note of the amount of sodium in your food, especially processed foods. Avoid processed food when you can and find lower sodium alternatives if you can.
- Get more exercise: Getting regular exercise (or simply getting your body moving on a regular basis) can help reduce your overall blood pressure.
A treatment plan to manage your blood pressure can be developed by your primary care physician. Can hearing loss as a result of high blood pressure be reversed? In some circumstances the answer is yes and in others not so much. You might be able to restore your hearing to some degree by reducing your blood pressure, according to some evidence. But at least some of the damage will most likely be irreversible.
Your hearing will have a better chance of recuperating if you address your blood pressure promptly.
How to safeguard your hearing
While lowering your blood pressure can certainly be good for your health (and your hearing), there are other ways to protect your hearing. This could include:
- Wear hearing protection: You can safeguard your hearing by using earplugs, earmuffs, or noise canceling headphones.
- Avoiding loud venues and events: Try to avoid overly loud noises when you can, as these noises can lead to damage to your ears. If you really need to be in an environment with overly loud noise, at least minimize your exposure time.
- Talk to us: Getting your hearing tested regularly can help you protect your hearing and identify any hearing loss early.
We can help you protect your hearing into the future, so make an appointment as soon as possible.