Did you know that high blood pressure can also increase your risk of developing age-related hearing loss?
Age-related hearing loss typically starts to manifest in your 40s, 50s, or 60s. You most likely won’t even detect your developing hearing loss even though it’s an irreversible condition. Years of noise damage is usually the cause. So how is hearing loss caused by hypertension? The blood vessels inside of your ears and your blood vessels in general can be damaged by high blood pressure.
What is blood pressure (and why is it important?)
Blood pressure is a measure of how quickly blood flows through your circulatory system. High blood pressure means that this blood flows more quickly than normal. Over time, this can cause damage to your blood vessels. These blood vessels that have been harmed lose their elasticity and frequently become blocked. A blockage can result in a stroke or other cardiovascular problems. Healthcare professionals tend to pay very close attention to a patient’s blood pressure for this reason.
So, what is regarded as 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 gets as high as 180/120, it’s regarded as a hypertensive crisis. This kind of event should be treated immediately.
How can hypertension cause hearing loss?
Hypertension can cause widespread damage to your blood vessels, including the blood vessels in your ear. As these blood vessels get damaged, it’s likely that the nerves in your ear also suffer lasting damage. The tiny hairs in your ears responsible for picking up vibrations, known as stereocilia, can also be negatively impacted by high blood pressure. When these stereocilia get damaged, they don’t regenerate, so any damage is effectively irreversible.
So regardless of the particular cause, irreversible hearing loss can be the result of any damage. According to some studies, the percentage of individuals who have hearing loss is higher when they have high blood pressure readings. Individuals who reported higher blood pressure were also more likely to have more severe hearing loss. The effects of hearing loss, in other words, can be decreased by keeping blood pressure under control.
What does high blood pressure feel like in your ears?
In the vast majority of cases, high blood pressure is a symptomless condition. High blood pressure isn’t the cause of “hot ears”. “Hot ears” is a condition where your ears feel hot and become red. Typically, it’s an indication of changes in blood flow relating to emotions, hormones, and other non-blood pressure-associated problems.
High blood pressure can sometimes worsen tinnitus symptoms. But how can you tell if tinnitus is from high blood pressure? The only way to know for certain is to talk to your doctor. In general, however, tinnitus isn’t a sign of high blood pressure. There’s a reason that high blood pressure is frequently called “the silent killer”.
The majority of individuals notice 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 is high blood pressure treated?
High blood pressure is typically due to a confluence of many different factors. That’s why lowering blood pressure might call for a variety of strategies. In general, you should talk with your primary care doctor to lower your blood pressure. That management might look like the following:
- Diet changes: Eating a Mediterranean diet can help you reduce blood pressure. Basically, stay away from foods like red meats and eat more vegetables and fruits.
- Take medication as prescribed: Sometimes, no amount of diet and exercise can counter or effectively manage high blood pressure. In those instances, (and even in cases where lifestyle changes have helped), medication may be required to help you manage your hypertension.
- Get more exercise: Getting regular exercise (or simply getting your body moving on a regular basis) can help lower your overall blood pressure.
- Avoid sodium: Pay attention to the amount of sodium in your food, especially processed foods. Find lower sodium alternatives when possible (or stay away from processed foods when you can).
A treatment plan to manage your blood pressure can be developed by your primary care physician. Can hearing loss from high blood pressure be reversed? In some cases the answer is yes and in others not so much. There is some evidence to indicate that reducing your blood pressure can help revive your hearing, at least partially. But it’s also likely that at least some of the harm incurred will be irreversible.
The faster your high blood pressure is corrected, the more likely it will be that your hearing will get better.
How to safeguard your hearing
While lowering your blood pressure can definitely be good for your health (and your hearing), there are other ways to protect your hearing. Here are a few ways:
- Talk to us: Getting your hearing screened regularly can help you maintain your hearing and detect any hearing loss early.
- Wear hearing protection: You can protect your hearing by using earplugs, earmuffs, or noise canceling headphones.
- Avoiding loud venues and events: Loud noises should be avoided because they can cause damage. If these locations aren’t entirely avoidable, limit your time in noisy environments.
If you have high blood pressure and are showing symptoms of hearing loss, be certain to make an appointment with us so we can help you address your hearing loss and safeguard your hearing health.