Did you know that high blood pressure can also increase your chance of developing age-related hearing loss?
Age-related hearing loss usually starts to manifest in your 40s, 50s, or 60s. You most likely won’t even detect your developing hearing loss even though it’s an irreversible condition. Years of noise damage is typically the cause. So how does hypertension cause hearing loss? The blood vessels in your ears and your blood vessels in general can be damaged by high blood pressure.
What is blood pressure (and why is it important?)
Blood pressure is a measure of how rapidly blood flows through your circulatory system. When the blood flows faster than normal it means you have high blood pressure. Over time, this can lead to damage to your blood vessels. These damaged vessels grow less elastic and more prone to blockages. Cardiovascular issues, including a stroke, can be the consequence of these blockages. That’s one of the reasons why healthcare professionals often pay close attention to your blood pressure.
What is considered high blood pressure?
The basic 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
When your blood pressure goes as high as 180/120, it’s regarded as a hypertensive crisis. This kind of event should be dealt with immediately.
How does hypertension cause hearing loss?
The blood vessels inside of your ear and your entire body can be damaged by hypertension. Normally, the nerves in your ear will also be damaged along with these blood vessels. Additionally, high blood pressure can negatively affect the stereocilia in your ear (the tiny hairs responsible for picking up vibrations). When these stereocilia become damaged, they don’t regenerate, so any damage is effectively irreversible.
So regardless of the specific cause, permanent hearing loss can be the result of any damage. According to some studies, the percentage of individuals who have hearing loss is higher when they have high blood pressure readings. People who have hearing loss are more likely to have higher blood pressure. The impacts of hearing loss, in other words, can be reduced by keeping blood pressure under control.
What does high blood pressure make your ears feel like?
Normally, the symptoms of high blood pressure are hardly noticeable. High blood pressure doesn’t cause “hot ears”. “Hot ears” is an affliction where your ears feel hot and become red. Usually, it’s an indication of changes in blood flow related to emotions, hormones, and other non-blood pressure-associated issues.
High blood pressure can sometimes exacerbate symptoms of tinnitus. But how do you know if tinnitus is from high blood pressure? The only way to know for certain is to talk to your doctor. In general, however, tinnitus isn’t a symptom of high blood pressure. There’s a reason that high blood pressure is frequently referred to as “the silent killer”.
Typically, it isn’t until you get your vitals taken at your annual exam that high blood pressure is detected. It’s a good reason to make sure you don’t miss those regular appointments.
How can you lower your blood pressure?
Typically, there are many factors that contribute to high blood pressure. As a result, you may have to take several different measures and use a variety of approaches to effectively lower your blood pressure. In general, you should work with your primary care doctor to lower your blood pressure. Here’s what that management might entail:
- Take medication as prescribed: In some situations, high blood pressure can’t be addressed with diet and exercise alone. In those cases, (and even in situations where lifestyle changes have helped), medication may be required to help you manage your hypertension.
- Diet changes: Your blood pressure can be lowered by eating a Mediterranean diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables and abstain from things like red meat.
- Get more exercise: Exercising regularly (or simply moving around on a regular basis) can help decrease your overall blood pressure.
- Avoid sodium: Keep your eye on the amount of salt in your food, especially processed foods. Steer clear of processed food when possible and find lower sodium alternatives if you can.
You and your primary care provider will develop a treatment plan to deal with your blood pressure. Can you reverse any hearing loss brought on by high blood pressure? In some circumstances the answer is yes and in others not so much. You might be able to rejuvenate your hearing to some degree by reducing your blood pressure, according to some evidence. But it’s also likely that at least some of the damage incurred will be irreversible.
Your hearing will have a better chance of recovering if you address your blood pressure quickly.
Protecting your hearing
You can protect your hearing in other ways besides lowering your blood pressure. This could include:
- Wear hearing protection: Earmuff, earplugs, and even noise canceling headphones can help you safeguard your hearing.
- Avoiding loud venues and events: Loud noises should be avoided because they can cause damage. If you really need to be in an environment with overly loud noise, at least minimize your exposure time.
- Talk to us: Any existing hearing loss can be protected and early detection will be possible by getting regular hearing screenings.
If you have high blood pressure and are noticing symptoms of hearing loss, make sure to make an appointment with us so we can help you address your hearing loss and safeguard your hearing health.
