We often hear that certain diets are important for strong bones or improved vision, and that exercise and healthy eating are key to protecting against disease. But did you know that your lifestyle choices can also considerably impact your hearing health? Read on to discover more about how your lifestyle choices can affect the health of your hearing.
Manage the factors within your control to preserve good hearing.
Genetic makeup plays a large part in whether you will experience hearing problems. There isn’t a lot you can do about it if your parents and grandparents were hard of hearing. You can limit the development with some smart lifestyle choices.
If you have no hearing issues in your family, regardless of your age, start making some changes that will positively 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, invest in some protection. Earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones are a great idea.
Exposure to loud noises results in noise-induced hearing loss.
Encourage your children and teens to use them too. You can never begin too young to safeguard your hearing.
Choose a healthy diet
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 little bones in your ears, while at the same time they protect against irregular bone growth.
Be active
We require exercise to ensure healthy blood circulation. Try walking, swimming, or cycling.
Doing consistent low-impact physical activity improves the health of your heart and blood vessels, decreasing the likelihood of hypertension and its potential link to hearing problems.
Quit smoking
The presence of harmful compounds in cigarettes, including arsenic, ammonia, and formaldehyde, can harm the internal mechanisms of your ears and eventually result in hearing loss.
Additionally, it is linked to the progression of tinnitus.
Limit alcohol
Consuming an excessive amount of alcohol within a brief timeframe can affect your auditory well-being. It can trigger a temporary loss of the ability to hear background sounds known as cocktail deafness. It can also produce temporary tinnitus.
It is conceivable that these two phenomena could become irreversible. If you experience hearing loss or ringing in the ears, it is advisable to reach out to a hearing specialist for an assessment .
Consume supplements that have a favorable impact on your hearing
These supplements are advantageous for your overall well-being and have been linked to promoting good hearing health in various studies.
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Zinc
- Magnesium and Potassium
- Vitamins A, C, and E
- B Vitamins
Seek advice from your primary care doctor to confirm their suitability for your needs.
Stay on top of your hearing health with regular check-ups
Regular hearing tests are the best way to pinpoint any hearing problems or changes to your hearing at an early stage.
Set up a hearing test today
If you are presently managing hearing loss, consider these lifestyle changes and set up a meeting with a skilled hearing professional as soon as possible.