Everybody knows that exercising and keeping yourself in shape is good for your overall health but you may not know that losing weight is also good for your hearing.
Research indicates children and adults who are overweight are more likely to cope with hearing loss and that healthy eating and exercising can help strengthen your hearing. It will be easier to make healthy hearing choices for you and your whole family if you learn about these associations.
Adult Hearing And Obesity
Women had a higher risk of developing hearing loss, according to research done by Brigham And Women’s Hospital, if they have a high body mass index (BMI). BMI measures the relationship between body fat and height, with a higher number meaning higher body fat. Of the 68,000 women who participated in the study, the level of hearing loss increased as BMI increased. The participants who were the most overweight were as much as 25 percent more likely to have hearing loss!
Another dependable indicator of hearing loss, in this study, was the size of a person’s waist. With women, as the waist size increases, the risk of hearing loss also increases. As a final point, participants who engaged in frequent physical activity had a reduced incidence of hearing loss.
Children’s Hearing And Obesity
Research conducted by Columbia University’s Medical Center revealed that obese teenagers had almost twice the risk of developing hearing loss in one ear when compared to non-obese teenagers. Sensorineural hearing loss, which occurs when the delicate hair cells in the inner ear are damaged, was common in these children. This damage makes it hard to hear what people are saying in a noisy setting like a classroom because it diminishes the ability to hear lower frequencies.
Hearing loss in children is especially worrisome because kids often don’t recognize they have a hearing problem. There will be an increasing danger that the problem will get worse as they become an adult if it goes unaddressed.
What is The Connection?
Researchers surmise that the association between obesity and hearing loss and tinnitus lies in the health symptoms related to obesity. High blood pressure, poor circulation, and diabetes are some of the health problems caused by obesity and linked 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 have to remain healthy to work effectively and in unison. It’s essential to have strong blood flow. High blood pressure and the narrowing of blood vessels brought about by obesity can impede this process.
Decreased blood flow can also damage the cochlea, which accepts vibrations and transmits nerve impulses to the brain so you can discern what you’re hearing. Damage to the cochlea and the adjoining nerve cells usually can’t be reversed.
Is There Anything You Can do?
Women who remained healthy and exercised frequently, according to a Brigham and Women’s Hospital study, had a 17% reduced likelihood of getting hearing loss in comparison with women who didn’t. You don’t need to run a marathon to reduce your risk, however. The simple act of walking for at least two hours per week can reduce 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, talk with your family members and put together a routine to help them shed some pounds. You can show them exercises that are enjoyable for children and work them into family gatherings. They may enjoy the exercises enough to do them on their own!
If you suspect you are experiencing hearing loss, talk to a hearing professional to discover whether it is related to your weight. Weight loss promotes better hearing and help is available. This person can perform a hearing test to confirm your suspicions and advise you on the measures necessary to deal with your hearing loss symptoms. A regimen of exercise and diet can be suggested by your primary care doctor if needed.