Everyone knows that exercising and keeping yourself in shape is good for your general health but you might not realize that losing weight is also good for your hearing.
Research reveals children and adults who are overweight are more likely to cope with hearing loss and that eating healthy and exercising can help strengthen your hearing. It will be easier to make healthy hearing choices for you and your whole family if you know about these relationships.
Adult Hearing And Obesity
A Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s study showed women with a high body mass index (BMI) were at an increased risk of experiencing hearing loss. BMI measures the relationship between height and body fat, with a higher number meaning higher body fat. Of the 68,000 women who participated in the study, the degree of hearing loss increased as BMI increased. The participants who were the most overweight were up to 25 % more likely to experience hearing impairment!
Another dependable indicator of hearing impairment, in this study, was the size of a person’s waist. Women with larger waist sizes had a higher chance of hearing loss, and the risk got higher as waist sizes increased. And finally, incidents of hearing loss were lower in people who engaged in regular physical activity.
Children’s Hearing And Obesity
A study by Columbia University’s Medical Center confirmed that obese teenagers had about double the risk of developing hearing loss in one ear than non-obese teenagers. These children experienced sensorineural hearing loss, which is a result of damage to sensitive hair cells in the inner ear that convey sound. This damage makes it hard to hear what people are saying in a noisy setting like a classroom because it decreases the ability to hear lower frequencies.
Children frequently don’t detect they have a hearing issue so when they have hearing loss it’s particularly worrisome. If the issue isn’t dealt with, there is a possibility the hearing loss could worsen when they become adults.
What is The Connection?
Researchers suspect that the connection between obesity and hearing loss and tinnitus lies in the health symptoms linked to obesity. High blood pressure, diabetes, and poor circulation are some of the health problems caused by obesity and tied to hearing loss.
The inner ear’s anatomy is very sensitive – consisting of a series of little capillaries, nerve cells, and other fragile parts that must remain healthy to work properly and in unison. Good blood flow is crucial. High blood pressure and the constricting of blood vessels caused by obesity can impede this process.
Reduced blood flow can also damage the cochlea, which receives sound waves and transmits nerve impulses to the brain so you can discern what you’re hearing. If the cochlea is damaged, it’s usually permanent.
What Should You do?
Women who remained healthy and exercised regularly, according to a Brigham and Women’s Hospital study, had a 17% lowered likelihood of getting hearing loss in comparison with women who didn’t. Reducing your risk, however, doesn’t mean you need to be a marathon runner. The simple routine of walking for at least two hours every week can decrease your risk of hearing loss by 15%.
Beyond losing weight, a better diet will, of itself, improve your hearing which will benefit your whole family. If there is a child in your family who has some extra weight, get together with your family members and develop a routine to help them shed some pounds. You can show them exercises that are fun for kids and incorporate them into family gatherings. They may do the exercises on their own if they like them enough.
If you believe you are experiencing hearing loss, consult a hearing specialist to discover whether it is related to your weight. Weight loss promotes better hearing and help is available. This person can conduct a hearing test to verify your suspicions and advise you on the steps needed to deal with your hearing loss symptoms. A regimen of exercise and diet can be recommended by your primary care doctor if needed.