Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Blood vessel damage and narrowed arteries can lead to chest pain, heart attack and even strokes. Heart disease can also affect your auditory system. Continue reading to learn more about the connection between hearing loss and strokes.
Heart Health & Hearing Loss
While they may seem unrelated, your heart health can impact your auditory system, as both rely heavily on good blood circulation. Within the inner ear are tiny hair cells responsible for translating sound vibrations into electrical impulses, which are then sent through the auditory nerve to the brain to be interpreted as sound. These hair cells require an adequate oxygen supply through steady blood circulation to function. Without enough oxygen, these hair cells will die, resulting in permanent hearing loss.
Can a Stroke Cause Hearing Loss?
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is blocked and the brain is deprived of oxygen. If this damage occurs in the part of the brain responsible for hearing and balance, it can cause lasting damage, including hearing impairment, dizziness and vestibular issues.
A stroke in the temporal lobe of the brain may result in long-term changes in hearing, including a person’s ability to recognize sounds or spoken words. While rare, spoken hallucinations can also occur.
Sudden hearing loss or sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is just as the name suggests – hearing loss that occurs all of a sudden or over a few days. SSNHL usually only affects one ear. Those who develop this condition have an increased risk of suffering a stroke within the next few years caused by a disruption in blood supply to the ears and brain.
4 Steps to Help Prevent a Stroke
According to experts, up to 80% of strokes can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle, which includes:
- Quitting smoking.
- Exercising more.
- Controlling your blood pressure.
- Eating a healthy diet.
Who knew taking a class at Balanced Fitness and Health or eating lunch at Water Grill San Diego could be good for your hearing? To learn more about the risk poor cardiovascular health poses to your hearing or to schedule an appointment for a hearing test, contact San Diego ENT today.