Contributed by Ryan Peterson.
While it might sound surprising, your heart can have a direct impact on your hearing health. Your hearing is very reliant on the blood flow that gets to your ear, and if that becomes impaired, hearing loss can occur. If you have heart disease, it’s possible for heart disease to lead to hearing loss. Any kind of restriction in the arteries that prevents the ears from getting needed blood can cause damage to your ears. This is not a definitive side effect of heart disease, but you should be aware of all potential side effects so you can treat the issue appropriately.
Every organ in your body is reliant on your heart.
How to identify hearing loss
If you’re experiencing hearing loss, you may not know about it straight away. It could take you months to realize what you are experiencing is a result of a loss of hearing, rather than an odd occurrence. Others might notice it before you do, which is when you should show some concern and see a professional.
If you find yourself constantly asking others to repeat themselves, be it over the phone or in person, it is something to consider as a concern. Everyone is different and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re experiencing hearing loss, but it’s still a red flag to get checked.
You might find the volume you need your TV to be at is much higher than usual. If you watch it with others, are they complaining that it’s too loud? Do you struggle to hear things that others have no trouble with? If so, you might be experiencing hearing loss.
Sometimes when people experience hearing loss, they end up preferring to avoid conversation as a result of it. It can become tiring and stressful to keep up with conversations, and without knowing why, it can be very frustrating.
Who to see for hearing loss
If you are concerned about your hearing health, there are a number of professionals you can see about it. You can start by checking in with your general practitioner and getting a referral. You contact an audiologist. Tell them your concerns, have them check your symptoms, and even get a treatment lined up and ready to go. Seeking guidance from someone trained in hearing loss will allow you to more effectively find relief.
The solution
While there aren’t many medical procedures that can cure your hearing loss, there are hearing aids available to reduce hearing difficulties. Hearing aid technology has developed to a point where they don’t interrupt your daily activities. There are many users who have claimed to forget at times that they’re wearing a hearing aid. Most people would prefer not to wear a hearing aid due to the stigma that comes with them, but a hearing aid can be very useful when it comes to restoring your hearing experience… and your ability to easily converse with friends, family, and co-workers!
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