Did you realize that high blood pressure can also increase your risk of developing age-related hearing loss?
From around 40 years old and up, you may start to notice that your hearing is starting to fail. Your symptoms could progress slowly and be largely invisible, but this kind of hearing loss is permanent. Years of noise damage is usually the cause. So how does hypertension cause hearing loss? The answer is that high blood pressure can lead to extensive damage to your blood vessels, including those in your ears.
Blood pressure and why it’s so important
The blood that runs through your circulatory system can move at different speeds. High blood pressure means that this blood moves more quickly than normal. Damage to your blood vessels can happen over time because of this. These damaged vessels become less flexible and more prone to blockages. Cardiovascular problems, like a stroke, can be the result of these blockages. Healthcare professionals usually pay very close attention to a patient’s blood pressure as a result.
What constitutes high blood pressure?
The general ratings for blood pressure include the following:
- 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 is over 180/120. This type of event should be dealt with immediately.
How is hearing loss caused by hypertension?
Hypertension can cause widespread damage to your blood vessels, including the blood vessels inside of your ear. As these blood vessels get damaged, it’s likely that the nerves in your ear also suffer lasting damage. Likewise, high blood pressure can negatively impact the stereocilia in your ear (the little hairs responsible for picking up vibrations). When these stereocilia become damaged, they don’t regenerate, so any damage is effectively permanent.
This means that damage to the ears, no matter the cause, can cause irreversible hearing loss. Research indicates that those who have healthy blood pressure readings tend to have a far lower prevalence of hearing loss. People who reported higher blood pressure were also more likely to have more extreme hearing loss. The findings of the research make clear that keeping your blood pressure under control can help you prevent the impacts of hearing loss.
What does high blood pressure make your ears feel like?
In most cases, high blood pressure is a symptomless condition. So-called “hot ears” are not an indication of high blood pressure. “Hot ears” is an affliction where your ears feel hot and become red. Hot ears are normally caused by changes in blood flow due to hormonal, emotional, and other issues not related to blood pressure.
High blood pressure can sometimes worsen tinnitus symptoms. But if your tinnitus was being caused by high blood pressure, how could you tell? It’s impossible to definitively tell without speaking to a doctor or hearing specialist. Tinnitus is generally not a symptom of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is sometimes referred to as “the silent killer” for a good reason.
Typically, it’s not until you have your vitals taken at your annual exam that high blood pressure is discovered. It’s a good reason to make sure you don’t miss those regular appointments.
How is high blood pressure managed?
High blood pressure is normally due to a confluence of many different factors. That’s why lowering blood pressure might require a variety of approaches. Your primary care physician should be where you address your high blood pressure. That management might look like the following:
- Avoid sodium: Keep your eye on the amount of sodium in your food, particularly processed foods. Steer clear of processed food when possible and find lower salt alternatives if you can.
- Take medication as prescribed: In some cases, high blood pressure can’t be managed with diet and exercise alone. 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.
- Diet changes: Eating a Mediterranean diet can help you lower blood pressure. Basically, stay away from foods like red meats and eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Get more exercise: Exercising regularly (or simply getting your body moving on a regular basis) can help decrease your overall blood pressure.
You and your doctor will establish a treatment plan to deal with your blood pressure. Can you reverse any hearing loss caused by high blood pressure? In some circumstances the answer is yes and in others not so much. There is some evidence to indicate that lowering your blood pressure can help restore your hearing, at least partially. But at least some of the damage will most likely be permanent.
The sooner your high blood pressure is lowered, the more likely it will be that your hearing will return.
How to protect your hearing
You can safeguard your hearing in other ways besides reducing your blood pressure. Here are a few ways:
- Wear hearing protection: You can protect your hearing by using earplugs, earmuffs, or noise canceling headphones.
- Talk to us: Any existing hearing loss can be maintained and early detection will be possible by getting regular hearing screenings.
- Avoiding loud venues and events: Loud noises should be avoided because they can cause damage. If these places aren’t completely avoidable, minimize your time in noisy environments.
We can help you preserve your hearing into the future, so make an appointment right away.