Heart Health and Hearing: A Connection Worth Knowing About
Most of us know that aging, genetics, noise exposure, certain medications, ear surgeries and acoustic trauma can affect our hearing. But did you know your heart has a say in it too? A growing body of research points to a link between heart health and hearing health. Here’s what you need to know, and what you can do about it.
Why does the heart affect hearing?
The exact mechanism isn’t fully understood yet, but the most likely explanation is straightforward: heart disease reduces blood flow to the ear. The inner ear is a highly sensitive organ that relies on good circulation to work properly. When it isn’t getting enough blood, different parts of the hearing system can become damaged, and hearing loss can set in.
Which cardiovascular risk factors are linked to hearing loss?
Several heart-related conditions and habits are recognized risk factors for hearing loss:
- high blood pressure;
- diabetes;
- smoking;
- a history of stroke;
- coronary heart disease.
Good to know: having two or more of these risk factors further increases the likelihood of developing hearing loss.
What does heart-related hearing loss look like?
People living with cardiovascular disease may experience greater hearing loss in the low frequencies. In everyday terms, those are the sounds typically associated with male voices, as well as certain vowels (a, e, o) and consonants (b, d, m) in speech.
There’s another important difference: cardiovascular disease can cause hearing to decline faster than expected for a person’s age. That’s why acting early matters.
Can hearing loss be prevented?
Good news: to a large extent, yes! Treating heart disease can slow down, or even prevent, hearing deterioration. Taking care of your heart also means taking care of your ears.
A few habits that make a real difference:
- Book a follow-up with your family doctor for regular health check-ups.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
- Get moving every day with some physical activity.
- Don’t smoke.
These habits help maintain good cardiovascular health, which in turn lowers your risk of developing hearing loss.
Why get your hearing tested regularly?
If you live with cardiovascular disease, frequent hearing assessments make it possible to catch hearing loss early and monitor how it evolves over time.
Untreated hearing loss is known to be associated with fewer social interactions, reduced quality of life and greater cognitive decline. Identifying it quickly helps reduce its impact on daily life, so you can keep enjoying the conversations that matter most to you.
Concerned about your heart or your hearing? Talk to your doctor, and consult an audiologist to have your hearing assessed. Taking good care of your ears starts with a simple test!
BY Amélie Desmarais, audiologist
