Heart for Health was asked to feature this great article written by guest blogger John O. Hearing loss is a very important issue that is greatly under covered in the area of prevention. Enjoy… In health, Tara Arnold RN
Healthy Lifestyle Changes That Can Prevent Hearing Loss
A little background on my self..My name is John O’Connor and I have always been very passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. Over the past few years I have become more and more interested in hearing loss. My father and grandparents along with other family members and friends are affected by hearing loss. I feel there is a general lack of understanding around the issue, and it is our job to try to spread awareness when we can. Check out my new blog @ bloggingwjohno.blogspot.com !
The Importance of Maintaining Your Hearing
The faculty of hearing is one of the most vital functions of the human body. Hearing
enables us to, first and foremost, communicate with other people, but secondly,
hearing enables us to avoid danger. Hearing, and the loss thereof, is directly related
to your lifestyle choices and healthy habits. Hearing loss often occurs with old age;
however, the choices that we make today can influence to what degree hearing loss
affects us as we age. Making healthy choices is not as hard as it may seem, and is a
viable solution to preventing hearing loss.
How Loud Noises Affect Your Hearing
While it is common knowledge that loud noises contribute greatly to hearing
loss, many people are unaware just what level constitutes loud noise. Any sound
that exceeds 85 decibels is able to cause damage to the hearing mechanism.
jack hammers and chain saws can easily exceed 100 decibels, so if you work a job
where you are constantly exposed to these sounds you should consider getting
some protective gear for your ears. Momentary exposure to very loud noises such
as gunshots and others can permanently damage your hearing. It is best to use
earplugs whenever you will be in a noisy environment.
pic from: http://www.medexsupply.com/
How Smoking Affects Your Hearing
Smoking is another big factor in hearing loss. Chronic smoking can, over time
diminish your ability to hear. In a Japanese study it was found that hearing loss
increased according to the amount of tobacco consumed from person to person.
In another study performed in 2005, the results concluded that age, smoking, and
loud noises caused a synergistic effect on hearing loss and any of the factors by
themselves weren’t nearly as harmful as the three combined factors.
How Diabetes Affects Your Hearing
Diabetes has a terrible effect on hearing, so if you consume a diet that is high in
sweets and refined carbohydrates you may want to reconsider your eating habits. It
has been proven that hearing loss is about a third higher in the diabetic population
than it is in people without diabetes. If your hearing is beginning to diminish, you may
want to change some of your eating habits and think of getting a hearing aid to assist
you.
How Proper Nutrition Can Help Prevent Hearing Loss
Free radicals are agents that contribute to some of the hardest parts of aging.
Everything from wrinkles, to cell degeneration, to hearing loss, is a direct result
of free radicals roaming around and harming the body. Doctors recommend that
we eat a diet that is high in fruit and vegetables because they contain the highest
concentrations of anti-oxidants. Anti- oxidants help to neutralize free radicals, and
put an end to the oxidizing effect that they have on our body. Eating five to eight
serving of fruits and vegetables a day is one of the most effective means of fighting
free radicals.
Additionally, taking a vitamin supplement everyday is a great way to ensure that
you are getting the appropriate amount of vitamins in your system. Folate is an
anti-oxidant that many people do not get enough of because of the fact that it
oxidizes easily at high temperatures. When we cook our food, the folate in it simply
cooks away with it. In 2009 a study was presented at the American Academy of
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting.
The results were astounding; it was shown that men over 60 could reduce their risk
for hearing loss by 20 percent by eating a diet of foods that were rich in folate.
When you buy a multivitamin, check the ingredients to make sure that it contains
folic acid, but also remember that eating a healthy diet can help decrease the risk of
hearing loss in the future.
John O.
To find out more about this topic, and it’s references check out these articles:
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/severe-hearing-loss-10/causes
