But did you know that your life choices can also considerably affect your hearing health? It’s true! Keep reading to find out how what you do every day can affect your ears and hearing.
Manage what you can for your hearing health
Genetic makeup plays a large part in whether you will have hearing problems. If your parents and grandparents had hearing problems, there is not a lot you can do to change that. By making educated decisions about your daily routines, however, you can decrease the development of the condition.
Regardless of your age, if you don’t have a history of hearing problems in your family, it’s a good idea to take proactive steps to protect your hearing and set yourself up for a lifetime of healthy hearing by applying the following strategies.
Protect your ears
Consider investing in hearing protection if you’re frequently subjected to loud noises at work or like going to high-volume events. Utilize earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.
Exposure to loud noises leads to noise-induced hearing loss.
Motivate your children and teens to utilize them as well. It’s never too soon to take measures to safeguard your hearing.
Eat the right food
Integrate 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 prevent irregular bone formation.
Be active
Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining good cardiovascular health. Consider adding activities like brisk walking, swimming laps, or riding a bike into your routine.
Engaging in consistent low-impact physical activity enhances the health of your heart and blood vessels, reducing the possibility of hypertension and its potential connection to hearing issues.
Quit smoking
The presence of hazardous substances in cigarettes, including arsenic, ammonia, and formaldehyde, can damage the internal mechanisms of your ears and eventually result in hearing loss.
In addition, it is linked to the development of tinnitus.
Reduce your alcohol drinking
Drinking too many alcoholic drinks in a short period of time can affect your hearing health. It can trigger a short-term loss of the ability to hear background noises known as cocktail deafness. It can also result in temporary tinnitus.
There is a possibility of these two situations becoming permanent. If you notice hearing loss or ringing in the ears, it is a good idea to reach out to a hearing specialist for an evaluation.
Take supplements that positively affect hearing health
The following supplements are not only good for your general health, but there are studies that link them to supporting hearing health.
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Zinc
- Magnesium and Potassium
- Vitamins A, C, and E
- B Vitamins
Talk with your primary care physician to ensure they are okay for you.
Schedule regular hearing exams
Having regular hearing assessments is the most effective way to identify any potential hearing issues or changes in your hearing early on.
Set up a hearing test today
If you are already noticing some hearing loss, focus on these lifestyle choices, and schedule an appointment with an expert hearing specialist today.