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Hearing Professionals
Heart Disease and Hearing Loss Is There a Connection?
Hearing Professionals Inc.
. http://www.hearing-professionals.com/

Heart Disease and Hearing Loss Is There a Connection?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, yet, an alarming number of Americans don't recognize how serious the threat of heart disease is to them personally. Nor do they understand how closely intertwined it is with other health conditions, such as hearing health. We urge everyone to know their risks and to take action today to protect their heart and hearing health.

The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow. Studies have shown that a healthy cardiovascular system a person's heart, arteries, and veins has a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, inadequate blood flow and trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear can contribute to hearing loss.

Some researchers hypothesize that because the inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow, abnormalities in the condition of blood vessels here could be noted earlier than in other, less sensitive parts of the body.

Inone study researchers hypothesized that low-frequency hearing loss is associated with underlying cardiovascular disease; and a mathematical formula using audiometric pattern and medical history to predict the probability of cardiovascular diseases and events was developed and tested. The researchers concluded that the audiogram pattern correlates strongly with cerebrovascular and peripheral arterial disease, and that it may represent a screening test for those at risk. The researchers also concluded that patients with low-frequency hearing loss should be regarded as at risk for cardiovascular events, and that appropriate referrals should be considered.

In another study researchers looked at hearing sensitivity in older adults and its association with cardiovascular risk factors. They concluded that modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease may play a role in the development of age-related hearing loss. Risk factors associated with poorer hearing sensitivity in men included high triglyceride levels, high resting heart rate, and a history of smoking. In women, poor hearing sensitivity was associated with high body mass index, high resting heart rate, fast aortic pulse-wave velocity(PWV), and low ankle-arm index (AAI).

Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, including impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, and an increased risk of personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension, stress, depression, and diminished psychological and overall health. A vast majority of people with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids and eight out of 10 hearing aid users report improvements in their quality of life.

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