We’ve known for a long time that overeating is detrimental to our health, especially over longer periods of time. Obesity is associated with several health issues. You can add hearing loss to high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes as a possible problem. It’s estimated that around 48 million individuals in the U . S ., hearing loss is a problem for around 20% of the U.S population, and nearly double that amount of adults, 93 million, are obese. These numbers are shocking and point to a significant health issue throughout the country.

What is The Link Between Loss of Hearing And Being Overweight?

Various studies have shown that there’s a relationship between being overweight and loss of hearing. Precisely what that connection is, is still being studied, it’s believed that being overweight is linked to loss of hearing because the circulatory system is affected. Additionally, obesity is associated with diabetes and high blood pressure, which are also connected to hearing loss.

The inner ears are filled with microscopic hairs that detect sound in the ear. These tiny hairs, called stereocilia, have to have a steady flow of blood and oxygen to function correctly. Due to obesity, the blood flow is restricted in the body because the heart must work extra hard to get the blood to flow around the body, which means that your inner ear is working on too little blood flow. This could irreversibly damage the ears. Considering that each of these diseases effect the blood flow, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes affect the inner ear in a similar way.

Keeping your weight under control is particularly important as you age since age-related hearing loss and high-fat mass index are also related. When you were younger, your body’s metabolism worked faster and more efficiently, which is the reason why you should try to follow healthy habits that you formed when you were younger.

Your ears and your general health are benefited by a healthy diet.

Obesity Related Hearing Loss Treatments

It’s feasible that you might not be able to recover your lost hearing if it’s brought on by obesity, however, in order to find out how extensive your hearing loss is, it’s necessary to have your hearing tested. If you have irreversible damage, you might need a hearing aid or other device to begin hearing properly again.

If the damage is not that severe, you might have considered trying to see your doctor about making an exercise and diet routine to lessen the impact your weight has on your health before it gets any worse. Your doctor should prescribe a cardio intensive exercise program that will help improve your overall health and get your blood pumping. There will be, more than likely, other improvements in your life too, like mental health, since consistent exercise will decrease depression according to many studies.

Obesity-Related Hearing Loss, How to Avoid it

A nutritious diet and a regular exercise campaign are required to controlling obesity-related problems including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Keeping your body healthy can also assist in keeping your hearing in good condition. A program that can assist you to reach your goals and that is individualized for you can be developed by a nutritionist. The nutritionist can make sure you’re eating healthy foods with the right combination of nutrients, foods that have plenty of iron, for instance, since, you guessed it, a lack of iron in your diet can worsen your hearing loss and trigger tinnitus.

Discover more concerning hearing loss and the treatment options available to let you hear better.