Hearing Loss and Weight Loss
During the Coronavirus epidemic you may find your waistline expanding. Limited opportunities for exercise and too much time for snacking means that you may have to watch what, and how much, you eat more carefully. This doesn’t mean that you are becoming obese, but good health should be a priority now more than ever before. Your ears require a healthy flow of blood and oxygen to function properly, and vascular issues that result from obesity will directly impact your hearing. Just at a time when good hearing is crucial for you, and your loved ones, to be able to deal with a crisis you may find yourself suffering from hearing loss. Don’t let this happen.
Hearing Loss and Obesity
No matter your age or gender, obesity can have serious consequences for your overall health, including your hearing. As obesity continues to rise globally, doctors have found a link between obesity and the increased risk of hearing loss. Obesity forces the heart to use more energy when pumping blood around your body and this leaves the tiny hair cells in your inner ear vulnerable as it puts stress on the capillary walls of the inner ear. Over time this will limit your ability to hear normally. Once these hair cells have been damaged, they cannot grow back or be treated. Obesity affects the higher frequencies of sound that you hear, according to a 2013 study in the American Journal of Medicine. The study also found that people have higher levels of physical activity are 17 percent less likely to develop a hearing loss over time, whilst those who showed signs of obesity are up to 27 percent more likely to lose some hearing.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy
Weight gain doesn’t happen overnight although it may feel like it if you are stuck at home during self-isolation. Cardiovascular exercise such as jogging will increase blood flow to the cochlea and auditory nerve. If you are unable to get out and about during a lock down then try other ways to stay physically fit, like skipping. Maintaining your fitness is important and so is maintaining your relationship with your hearing care professional to monitor any changes in your hearing that may occur. Wearing hearing aids may also relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety that can make it difficult to take control of your health or find the motivation to exercise.
If you have lots of free time on your hands, get started on tackling your weight gain. This will preserve your hearing for years to come. Call us at Clarisound to find out about the best hearing aids for you, and your loved ones.