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. Were you aware that your hearing health can also be significantly impacted by the lifestyle choices you make? It’s true! Keep reading to discover how what you do each day can affect your ears and hearing.
Control what you can for your hearing health
Genetics plays a large role 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 slow the advancement with some sensible lifestyle choices.
Regardless of your age, if you don’t have a history of hearing issues in your family, it’s a good plan to take proactive steps to protect your hearing and set yourself up for a lifetime of healthy hearing by implementing the following strategies.
Keep your ears safe
Think about investing in hearing protection if you’re frequently subjected to loud sounds at work or enjoy going to high-volume events. Earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones are a great idea.
Noise-induced hearing loss is usually the result of exposure to loud noises.
Motivate your children and teens to use them too. You can never start too young to preserve your hearing.
Eat the right food
Incorporate these vital foods into your diet:
- Fish
- Legumes
- Garlic
- Bananas
- Dark chocolate
- Whole grains
- Broccoli
Foods like these are rich in essential nutrients that support the health of the delicate bones’ healthy growth and help prevent unnatural bone development.
Stay physically engaged.
Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining good cardiovascular health. Think about adding activities like brisk walking, swimming laps, or riding a bike into your routine.
Engaging in consistent low-impact physical activity improves the health of your heart and blood vessels, reducing the likelihood of hypertension and its potential connection to hearing issues.
Given up smoking
The presence of harmful substances in cigarettes, including arsenic, ammonia, and formaldehyde, can harm the internal mechanisms of your ears and eventually lead to hearing impairment.
In addition, it is linked to the progression of tinnitus.
Limit alcohol
Consuming a significant amount of alcohol within a short timeframe can affect your auditory well-being. It can result in impaired hearing, frequently knowned as cocktail deafness, where background sounds become muted. It can also produce temporary tinnitus.
It is conceivable that these two phenomena could become irreversible. If hearing loss or tinnitus occurs, you should consult with a hearing specialist for an assessment.
Use supplements that positively affect hearing health
These supplements are advantageous for your overall well-being and have been connected 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.
Schedule regular hearing tests
Having regular hearing tests is the most effective way to detect any potential hearing problems or changes in your hearing early on.
Book a hearing test today
If you are presently dealing with hearing loss, consider these lifestyle changes and set up a meeting with a skilled hearing professional as soon as possible.