Untreated hearing loss and their impacts on health and lifestyle.
Did you know?, untreated hearing loss impacts you health and lifestyle in many ways some of which are as follows:
COGNITIVE DECLINE
Adults with hearing loss experience a 30–40% faster decline in cognitive abilities than those with normal hearing.
HEART HEALTHY
A healthy cardiovascular system has a positive effect on hearing. A healthy heart keeps hearing intact. When the heart is not functioning well the blood supply to the inner ear is affected and can lead to hearing loss.
SAFETY/BALANCE
People with mild hearing loss are 3x more likely to have a history of falling. Hearing loss is often linked to falling due to missing steps while walking.
OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis can adversely affect and weaken the three tiny bones in the middle ear, which can lead to hearing loss.
DIABETES
Hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes as their peers without it. Diabetes can have a significant impact on your ears because high blood sugar levels can damages the nerves and blood vessels in your ears.
HYPERTENSION
High Blood Pressure can be an accelerating factor of hearing loss in adults. When your blood pressure is high, your blood vessels can be damaged and it is not specific to one area of the body – your entire body could be affected, including your ears.
ISOLATION
Untreated Hearing Loss can contribute to social isolation, anxiety, depression and cognitive decline. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to dementia, Alzheimer’s etc.
TINNITUS
Up to 90% of people with tinnitus also have some level of noise-induced hearing loss. Tinnitus are linked to hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear, due to ageing or exposure to loud noise. This type of hearing loss is also called sensorineural.
DEPRESSION
A survey shows that adults* with untreated hearing loss were more likely to repeat depression, less likely to participate in social activities ,anxiety and paranoia than those who wear hearing aids.
EYE HEALTH
Your vision aids you in identifying where a sound is coming from. Untreated hearing loss can lead to blindness. The combination vision problems and hearing can also decrease the ability in a person to socialize, which has been linked to a greater risk of dementia.
OBESITY
Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and larger waist circumferences are associated with increased risk of hearing loss in women. Obesity can result in high blood pressure and lower circulation of oxygenation of cells .These factors can often lead to damage in the hair cells, which can result in tinnitus and other forms of hearing damage/Loss.
OTOTOXICITY
There are more than 200 medications and chemicals that are known to cause hearing and balance problems.
SMOKING
Current smokers have a 70% higher risk of hearing loss than nonsmoker. Studies have shown that time and again exposure to cigarette smoke whether passive or directly leads to hearing loss . When Smoking is taken at an early age hearing health is at risk too as compared with little or no exposure. Smoking is also linked to tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo, as well.