Were you aware that your risk of developing age-related hearing loss can be increased if you have high blood pressure?
Age-related hearing loss usually starts to manifest in your 40s, 50s, or 60s. Your symptoms could progress gradually and be largely invisible, but this type of hearing loss is irreversible. Years of noise damage is usually the cause. So how is hearing loss a result of hypertension? The blood vessels inside of your ears and your blood vessels in general can be damaged by high blood pressure.
Blood pressure and why it’s so important
The blood that runs through your circulatory system can move at different speeds. When the blood moves quicker than normal it means you have high blood pressure. Damage to your blood vessels can occur over time as a result. These blood vessels that have been damaged lose their flexibility and frequently become blocked. Cardiovascular problems, such as a stroke, can be the result of these blockages. That’s one of the reasons why healthcare professionals frequently pay close attention to your blood pressure.
So, what is considered to be 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
A hypertensive emergency happens when your blood pressure is over 180/120. This type of event should be treated immediately.
How is hearing loss caused by hypertension?
The blood vessels inside of your ear and your whole body can be damaged by hypertension. Typically, the nerves in your ear will also be compromised along with these blood vessels. Additionally, high blood pressure can negatively impact the stereocilia in your ear (the tiny hairs responsible for picking up vibrations). When these stereocilia become damaged, they don’t regenerate, so any damage is effectively permanent.
This means that damage to the ears, regardless of the cause, can cause permanent hearing loss. Research indicates that people with normal blood pressure readings tend to have a much lower prevalence of hearing loss. Individuals who reported higher blood pressure were also more likely to have more extreme hearing loss. The effects of hearing loss, in other words, can be reduced 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 doesn’t cause “hot ears”. “Hot ears” is a condition where your ears feel hot and become red. Hot ears are normally caused by changes in blood flow due to hormonal, emotional, and other issues not related to blood pressure.
High blood pressure can sometimes exacerbate symptoms of tinnitus. But if your tinnitus was being caused by high blood pressure, how could you tell? The only way to tell 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 referred to as “the silent killer”.
Typically, it isn’t until you have your vitals taken at your annual exam that high blood pressure is detected. It’s a good reason to make sure you don’t miss those regular appointments.
How is high blood pressure managed?
High blood pressure is typically a result of a confluence of numerous different factors. Consequently, you may have to take several different measures and use a variety of approaches to effectively lower your blood pressure. Your primary care physician should be where you address your high blood pressure. That management may look like the following:
- Take medication as prescribed: In some cases, no amount of diet and exercise can prevent or successfully manage high blood pressure. Although diet and exercise can be helpful, there are some cases where it will be necessary to use blood pressure medication as prescribed to manage hypertension.
- Get more exercise: Exercising regularly (or simply getting your body moving on a regular basis) can help lower your overall blood pressure.
- Diet changes: Eating a Mediterranean diet can help you lower blood pressure. Eat more fruits and vegetables and abstain from things like red meat.
- Avoid sodium: Keep your eye on the amount of salt in your food, particularly processed foods. Avoid processed food when possible and find lower sodium alternatives if you can.
You and your primary care provider will establish a treatment plan to deal with your blood pressure. Can hearing loss from high blood pressure be reversed? The answer depends. There is some evidence to suggest that decreasing your blood pressure can help restore your hearing, at least partially. But it’s also likely that at least some of the harm incurred will be permanent.
The faster your high blood pressure is reversed, the more likely it will be that your hearing will get better.
How to protect your hearing
You can safeguard your hearing in other ways besides lowering your blood pressure. Here are a number of ways:
- Talk to us: Getting your hearing tested regularly can help you preserve your hearing and identify any hearing loss early.
- Avoiding loud venues and events: Try to steer clear of overly loud noises where you can, as these noises can lead to damage to your ears. If these settings are not completely avoidable, minimize your time in noisy environments.
- Wear hearing protection: You can protect your hearing by using earplugs, earmuffs, or noise canceling headphones.
If you have high blood pressure and are showing symptoms of hearing loss, make sure to make an appointment with us so we can help you manage your hearing loss and protect your hearing health.