Were you aware that your chance of developing age-related hearing loss can be increased if you have high blood pressure?
Age-related hearing loss typically begins to manifest in your 40s, 50s, or 60s. Your symptoms could develop slowly and be largely invisible, but this kind of hearing loss is permanent. Typically, it’s the consequence of many years of noise-related damage. So how is hearing loss caused by hypertension? The answer is that high blood pressure can cause extensive damage to your blood vessels, including those in your ears.
Blood pressure and why it’s so significant
Blood pressure is a measure of how rapidly blood moves through your circulatory system. When the blood moves faster than normal it means you have high blood pressure. Over time, this can result in damage to your blood vessels. These damaged vessels grow less elastic and more prone to blockages. A blockage can result in a stroke or other cardiovascular issues. That’s one of the reasons why healthcare professionals frequently pay close attention to your blood pressure.
So, what is considered to be high blood pressure?
Here are the general ratings for high blood pressure:
- 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 considered a hypertensive emergency. This kind of event should be addressed immediately.
How is hearing loss caused by hypertension?
The blood vessels inside of your ear and your entire body can be damaged by hypertension. Typically, the nerves in your ear will also be compromised along with these blood vessels. The little hairs in your ears responsible for picking up vibrations, known as stereocilia, can also be adversely impacted by high blood pressure. When these stereocilia get damaged, they don’t regenerate, so any damage is effectively irreversible.
So regardless of the specific cause, irreversible hearing loss can be the result of any damage. According to some research, the percentage of people 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 decreased by keeping blood pressure under control.
What does high blood pressure make your ears feel like?
In most cases, high blood pressure is a symptomless condition. High blood pressure isn’t the cause of “hot ears”. What are hot ears? It’s a symptom where your ears feel warm and get red. Hot ears are usually caused by changes in blood flow due to hormonal, emotional, and other problems not related to blood pressure.
High blood pressure can sometimes exacerbate symptoms of tinnitus. But how can you tell if tinnitus is a result of high blood pressure? The only way to tell for certain is to talk to your doctor. In general, however, tinnitus is not a sign of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is sometimes referred to as “the silent killer” for a good reason.
Most people find out they have high blood pressure when they go in for a yearly exam and get their vitals taken. This is one good reason to make sure you go to your yearly appointments.
How can you lower your blood pressure?
High blood pressure is typically caused by a confluence of numerous different factors. Consequently, you may have to take numerous different measures and use a variety of methods 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: Sometimes, no amount of diet and exercise can counter or effectively manage high blood pressure. Although diet and exercise can be helpful, there are some cases where it will be necessary to use blood pressure medication as prescribed to control hypertension.
- 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 sodium alternatives if possible.
- Diet changes: Your blood pressure can be reduced by eating a Mediterranean diet. Eat more fruits and veggies and avoid things like red meat.
- Get more exercise: Exercising regularly (or simply moving around on a regular basis) can help lower your overall blood pressure.
A treatment plan to address your blood pressure can be developed by your primary care physician. Can you reverse any hearing loss brought on by high blood pressure? The answer depends. There is some evidence to indicate that decreasing your blood pressure can help restore your hearing, at least in part. But at least some of the damage will likely be permanent.
Your hearing will have a better chance of recuperating if you address your blood pressure quickly.
Safeguarding your hearing
You can safeguard your hearing in other ways besides lowering your blood pressure. This could include:
- Avoiding loud venues and events: Try to avoid overly loud noises when you can, as these noises can result in damage to your ears. If you really need to be in a setting with overly loud noise, at least minimize your exposure time.
- Wear hearing protection: Earmuff, earplugs, and even noise canceling headphones can help you safeguard your hearing.
- Talk to us: Getting your hearing screened regularly can help you preserve your hearing and detect any hearing loss early.
We can help you preserve your hearing into the future, so book an appointment right away.
