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 life choices can also dramatically impact your hearing health? It’s true! Keep reading to discover how what you do every day can affect your ears and hearing.
Manage what you can for your hearing health
Genetics plays a large role in whether you will experience hearing issues. There isn’t a lot you can do about it if your parents and grandparents were hard of hearing. By making informed decisions about your daily habits, however, you can decrease the advancement of the condition.
If you have no hearing problems in your family, no matter your age, begin making some changes that will positively affect your hearing health like those below.
Safeguard your ears
If you work in a loud setting or like to attend loud concerts, purchase some protection. Use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.
Exposure to loud noises results in noise-induced hearing loss.
Motivate your children and teens to utilize them as well. You can never begin 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
These foods contain nutrients that supply strength for the little bones in your ears, while at the same time they prevent abnormal bone growth.
Be active
Routine physical activity is important for maintaining good cardiovascular health. Consider adding activities like brisk walking, swimming laps, or riding a bike into your routine.
Regular light exercise improves your cardiovascular health, which decreases the danger of high blood pressure and a connection to hearing problems.
Quit smoking
The presence of harmful compounds in cigarettes, such as arsenic, ammonia, and formaldehyde, can damage 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 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.
There is a possibility of these two situations becoming permanent. If hearing loss or tinnitus occurs, you should consult with a hearing specialist for an assessment.
Use supplements that positively affect hearing health
The following supplements are not only great for your general health, but there are studies that connect them to strengthening hearing health.
- 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.
Stay on top of your hearing health with regular exams
Having routine hearing assessments is the most effective method to identify any potential hearing problems or changes in your hearing early on.
Book a hearing evaluation today
If you are already noticing some hearing loss, focus on these lifestyle choices, and make an appointment with an experienced hearing specialist today.
