We often hear that specific diets are crucial for strong bones or better vision, and that exercise and healthy eating are vital to protecting against disease. But did you know that your lifestyle choices can also significantly impact your hearing health? It’s true! Keep reading to find out how what you do every day can affect your ears and hearing.
Control what you can for your hearing health
Genetics plays a large part in whether you will experience hearing issues. There isn’t much you can do about it if your parents and grandparents were hard of hearing. You can slow the development with some smart lifestyle choices.
If you have no hearing problems in your family, no matter your age, start making some changes that will favorably affect your hearing health like those below.
Keep your ears safe
If you work in a loud setting or like to go to loud concerts, purchase some protection. Earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones are a good idea.
Exposure to loud noises results in noise-induced hearing loss.
Motivate your children and teens to utilize them too. You can never start too young to safeguard your hearing.
Eat the right food
Make it a point to include the following foods into your diet:
- Fish
- Legumes
- Garlic
- Bananas
- Dark chocolate
- Whole grains
- Broccoli
These foods consist of nutrients that provide strength for the tiny bones in your ears, while at the same time they protect against abnormal bone growth.
Remain physically engaged.
Regular physical activity is important for maintaining good cardiovascular health. Think about incorporating activities like brisk walking, swimming laps, or riding a bike into your routine.
Regular light exercise improves your cardiovascular health, which decreases the risk of high blood pressure and a connection to hearing issues.
Quit smoking
Smoking contains poisonous chemicals, like arsenic, ammonia, and formaldehyde, which damage the inner workings of your ears and can lead to hearing loss over time.
Additionally, it is connected to the development of tinnitus.
Reduce your alcohol consumption
Having too many alcoholic drinks in a short period of time can impact your hearing health. It can lead to impaired hearing, typically referred to as cocktail deafness, where background sounds become muted. It can also cause temporary tinnitus.
It is conceivable that these two phenomena could become irreversible. If you notice hearing loss or ringing in the ears, it is a good idea to reach out to a hearing specialist for an assessment .
Consume supplements that have a beneficial impact on your hearing
The following supplements are not only excellent for your overall health, but there are studies that connect them to supporting hearing health.
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Zinc
- Magnesium and Potassium
- Vitamins A, C, and E
- B Vitamins
Talk with your primary care physician to ensure they are okay for you.
Stay on top of your hearing health with routine exams
Having routine hearing tests is the most reliable method to identify any potential hearing issues or changes in your hearing early on.
Set up a hearing test today
If you are already noticing some hearing loss, concentrate on these lifestyle choices, and make an appointment with an expert hearing specialist today.
