The concept that diet plays a vital role in strengthening bones and improving vision, and that eating healthy and getting regular exercise can keep you healthy, is a common understanding. But did you know that your lifestyle choices can also dramatically affect your hearing health? It’s true! Continue reading to find out how what you do each day can impact your ears and hearing.
Manage the factors within your control to maintain good hearing.
Genetics plays a large role in whether you will experience hearing issues. If your parents and grandparents had hearing difficulties, there is not a lot you can do to change that. You can slow the progression with some sensible lifestyle choices.
If you have no hearing problems in your family, no matter your age, start making some changes that will positively affect your hearing health like those below.
Protect your ears
If you work in a noisy environment or like to go to loud concerts, purchase some protection. Earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones are a great idea.
Exposure to loud sounds leads to noise-induced hearing loss.
Encourage your kids and adolescents to make use of them too. It’s never too early to take measures to safeguard your hearing.
Eat the right food
Incorporate these vital foods into your diet:
- Fish
- Legumes
- Garlic
- Bananas
- Dark chocolate
- Whole grains
- Broccoli
These foods contain nutrients that provide strength for the tiny bones in your ears, while at the same time they prevent abnormal bone growth.
Stay physically engaged.
Routine physical activity is essential for preserving good cardiovascular health. Think about adding activities like brisk walking, swimming laps, or riding a bike into your routine.
Doing regular low-impact physical activity improves the health of your heart and blood vessels, decreasing the possibility of hypertension and its potential link to hearing problems.
Given up smoking
Smoking contains toxic chemicals, including arsenic, ammonia, and formaldehyde, which damage the inner workings of your ears and can result in hearing loss over time.
Moreover, there is also a connection between this and the inception of tinnitus.
Reduce your alcohol drinking
Consuming an excessive amount of alcohol within a brief timeframe can affect your auditory well-being. It can lead to impaired hearing, often referred to as cocktail deafness, where background sounds become muted. Additionally, it might result in a short-term ringing in the ears.
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 professional for an evaluation.
Take supplements that positively affect hearing health
These supplements are advantageous for your general 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
Consult with your primary care doctor to confirm their suitability for your needs.
Schedule regular hearing exams
Having routine hearing assessments is the most reliable method to identify any potential hearing problems or changes in your hearing early on.
Set up a hearing test today
If you are currently managing hearing loss, consider these lifestyle changes and set up a meeting with a skilled hearing professional as soon as you can.
