Did you know that exercise can help prevent new hearing loss? Keeping this in mind means that the new year might be the best time to follow through with your physical fitness resolutions!
Here are some things to keep in mind with exercise and hearing loss:
Exercise Might Delay Age-Related Hearing Loss
An estimated one of every three adults between ages 65 and 74 lives with hearing impairment, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders. That makes it a common health challenge among aging populations. Research also shows that exercise can help reduce age-related hearing loss, also known as AHL. One recent study using mice found that “regular exercise slowed AHL” and deterioration of the cochlea, the part of the inner ear that detects sound.
Reduced Noise Means Better Hearing Over Time
To get the most out of a workout and help protect your ears, you’ll want to reduce excess noise. Make sure that you wear quality earplugs and keep a good distance from speakers in group exercise classes — music volumes can reach well above the danger threshold of 85 decibels. If you use a personal music device, experts recommend turning the volume at least halfway down or lower from full volume.
Cardio Helps Your Ears And Your Heart
People with heart disease are 54% more likely to have hearing loss. Research shows that people between the ages of 50 and 60 with a healthy heart have better hearing than their peers with poor cardiovascular outcomes. Just 30 minutes a day, five days a week of moderate to vigorous exercise helps cut the risk of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Even a light, brisk walk is better than nothing.
The Link Between Hearing and Brain Function
Studies show that exercise supports brain health. Consider the following from the executive editor of Harvard Health blog:
“The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of growth factors — chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells.”
Want to learn more about how hearing loss might be affecting you and the treatment options that are available? contact us today at 949-558-8035.