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Is High Blood Pressure Linked to Hearing Loss?

December 28, 2018
Categories
  • FAQ
  • Hearing Health and Lifestyle
Tags
  • baby boomers
  • blood pressure
  • hearing assessment
  • hearing loss
  • hearing test

When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked? It was probably within the past year, and most likely you can remember if it was high or within the normal range.

But when was the last time you had your hearing checked?

Typically, hearing loss starts around age 30 and increases progressively over the years. Since it often occurs gradually, it can be difficult to recognize when you have hearing loss. The best way to know for sure is to get a hearing assessment.

Hearing loss is the fourth leading cause of disability in the U.S. and the third most prevalent chronic health condition facing seniors. Nearly half of people age 75 and older and approximately one-third of people ages 65 to 74 have hearing loss. In the next forty years, as the population ages, hearing loss is expected to nearly double.

Connecting High Blood Pressure, Hearing Loss

Recent research links high blood pressure to hearing loss. Some researchers have even called the ear “a window to the heart.”  David R. Friedland, M.D. found that audiogram patterns (or hearing assessment results) strongly correlate with arterial disease, even acting as a heart-health test for those at risk. This means that doctors might be able to use those patterns as screening criteria to assess your risk for a cardiovascular event like a heart attack.

How are blood pressure and hearing loss linked?

Blood pressure numbers of less than 120/80 mm Hg are considered within the normal range, according to the American Heart Association. But when high blood pressure (130/80 mm Hg) is left untreated it can directly affect your hearing by serving as an accelerating factor in the degeneration of the auditory system as you age. When you have high blood pressure, blood vessels all over the body, including the ears, are injured because blood flow to the body is impaired. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 75 million people in the United States have hypertension.

When blood vessels in your ears are damaged, fatty plaque builds up and can affect your hearing. The inner ear, which is very sensitive to blood flow, is one of the key areas responsible for hearing. Within the inner ear there are critical hair cells; the hair cells have vital structures that detect and respond to sound, transmitting nerve signals to the brain. In addition to high blood pressure, certain medications, excessive exposure to loud noises, aging or an infection can damage the hair cells.

If you suffer from high blood pressure for a long period of time, it can permanently damage the hearing organs. Not only is high blood pressure a cause for concern, any sudden change in your hearing is a significant warning sign and should not be ignored. A study published by the American Heart Association, found that sudden sensorineural hearing loss can be an early warning sign of an impending stroke.

Attention Baby Boomers: Control Blood Pressure, Prevent Hearing Loss

Since high blood pressure can accelerate hearing loss, getting your hearing checked can be a lifesaver—literally. The good news is that researchers found that controlling blood pressure can prevent further hearing loss. Although medication can be used to regulate blood pressure, simple dietary and lifestyle changes can also work wonders:

  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Exercise for 30 minutes a day, five times a week.
  • Eat a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products.
  • Reduce sodium intake.
  • Limit alcohol consumption.

Your Hearing Assessment* is Just a Click Away

Regardless of the degree of severity, hearing loss may affect your quality of life. If you are suffering from hearing loss, don’t dismiss it as ‘just’ part of the aging process. Since high blood pressure and hearing loss often go hand-in-hand, recognizing the connection could save your hearing or your life. Schedule your complimentary hearing assessment* today by calling 866-837-8286 (866-TEST-AT-60), or by visiting campaignforbetterhearing.us.

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The purpose of this hearing assessment and/or demonstration is for hearing wellness and to determine if the consumer may benefit from using hearing aids, which may include selling and fitting hearing aids. Products demonstrated may differ from products sold. Assessment conclusion is not a medical diagnosis and further testing may be required to diagnose hearing loss. The use of any hearing aid may not fully restore normal hearing and does not prevent future hearing loss. Hearing instruments may not meet the needs of all hearing-impaired individuals. One offer per consumer and offer cannot be combined with any of our promotional offers, coupons or discounts. Offer not available to any consumer who has private or federal health insurance coverage. Other terms may apply, see office for details.

Please note: Complimentary hearing assessment is not valid at the following locations: HearingLife, 6262 E Broadway Rd, Suite 103, Mesa, AZ 85206 | Hearing, Balance and Speech Center, A HearingLife Company, 11 Harrison Avenue, Branford, CT 06405 | Hearing, Balance and Speech Center, A HearingLife Company, 171 Grandview Ave., Suite 203, Waterbury, CT 06708 | HearingLIfe, Audubon Medical Campus (Located in Colorado ENT & Allergy), 3030 North Circle Drive, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 | HearingLife, Saint Francis Medical Campus, NorthCare Pavilion (Located in Colorado ENT & Allergy), 6071 East Woodmen Road, Suite 325, Colorado Springs, CO 80923 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., A HearingLife Company, 99 Wolf Creek Blvd, Suite 3, Dover, DE 19901 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., A HearingLife Company, 104 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Suite 202, Middletown, DE 19709 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., A HearingLife Company, 28 Peoples Plaza, Newark, DE 19702 | HearingLife 2051 Art Museum Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32207 | HearingLife, 3754 US Highway 90, Suite No. 350, Pace, FL 32571 | HearingLife Sacred Heart Hospital Campus, 5147 North 9th Avenue, Suite 315, Pensacola, FL 32504 | Destin Hearing Associates, a HearingLife Company, 141 Mack Bayou Loop, Suite 202, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 1441 Parkway Drive, Blackfoot, ID 83221 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 3345 Merlin Drive, Suite 200, Idaho Falls, ID 83404 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 256 N. 2nd E., Suite 3, Rexburg, ID 83440 | HearingLife 100 East Northwood Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 | REM Audiology Associates, A HearingLife Company, 775 Route 70 East, Suite F-120B, Marlton, NJ 08053 | REM Audiology Associates, A HearingLife Company, 1000 White Horse Road, Voorhees, NJ 08043 | Anderson Audiology 3120 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146 | Anderson Audiology 9430 West Lake Mead Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 8913 | Anderson Audiology, 2642 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Henderson, NV 8905 | Anderson Audiology, 193 North Pecos Road, Henderson, NV 89074 | Anderson Audiology 6475 North Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89131 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center- Hear Clear, 14 Columbia Circle Drive, Suite 202, Albany, NY, 12203 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center- Hear Clear, 81 Miller Road, Suite 700, East Greenbush, NY, 12033 | HearingLife, formerly Family Audiology, 800 Hooper Road, Suite 370, Endicott, NY 13760 | HearingLife, formerly Family Hearing Center, 18 Westage Business Center Drive, Fishkill, NY 12524 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center- Hear Clear, 414 Maple Avenue, Suite 800, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866 | Kenwood Hearing Centers, A HearingLife Company, 960 W. Wooster, Bowling Green, OH 43402 | Kenwood Hearing Centers, A HearingLife Company, 3450 W. Central Ave., Toledo, OH 43606 | Kenwood Hearing Centers, A HearingLife Company, 725 S. Shoop Ave., Wauseon, OH 43567 | Audiology Professionals, A HearingLife Company, 1600 Valley River Dr, Suite 395, Eugene, OR 97401 | REM Audiology Associates, A HearingLife Company, 8100 Roosevelt Blvd, Suite 103, Philadelphia, PA 19152 | Arlington Hearing Center, A HearingLife Company, 2500 Wilson Blvd #105, Arlington, VA 22201 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 685 S. Washington St., Afton, WY 83110