But did you know that your life choices can also considerably impact your hearing health? It’s true! Keep reading to find out how what you do every day can impact your ears and hearing.
Control what you can for your hearing health
Genetic makeup plays a large role in whether you will have hearing issues. If your parents and grandparents had hearing problems, there is not a lot you can do to alter that. You can limit the development with some smart lifestyle choices.
Regardless of your age, if you don’t have a history of hearing problems in your family, it’s a good plan to take proactive steps to protect your hearing and set yourself up for a lifetime of healthy hearing by applying the following strategies.
Safeguard your ears
Think about investing in hearing protection if you’re frequently exposed to loud sounds at work or like attending high-volume events. Earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones are a great idea.
Exposure to loud sounds results in noise-induced hearing loss.
Urge your kids and adolescents to make use of them too. It’s never too early to take measures to protect your hearing.
Choose a healthy diet
Integrate these vital foods into your diet:
- Fish
- Legumes
- Garlic
- Bananas
- Dark chocolate
- Whole grains
- Broccoli
Foods like these are plentiful in essential nutrients that support the health of the delicate bones’ normal growth and prevent unnatural bone development.
Be active
Routine physical activity is important for preserving good cardiovascular health. Consider adding activities like brisk walking, swimming laps, or riding a bike into your routine.
Doing regular low-impact physical activity improves the health of your heart and blood vessels, decreasing the possibility of hypertension and its potential link to hearing issues.
Quit smoking
Smoking contains harmful chemicals, including arsenic, ammonia, and formaldehyde, which damage the inner workings of your ears and can result in hearing loss over time.
Furthermore, there is also a link between this and the onset of tinnitus.
Reduce your alcohol drinking
Consuming an excessive amount of alcohol within a brief timeframe can impact your auditory well-being. It can lead to impaired hearing, frequently referred to as cocktail deafness, where background sounds become muted. In addition, it may result in a temporary ringing in the ears.
There is a possibility of these two phenomena becoming permanent. If you notice hearing loss or ringing in the ears, it is advisable to talk to a hearing professional for an evaluation.
Take supplements that positively affect hearing health
These supplements are beneficial for your general well-being and have been linked to promoting good hearing health in various studies.
- 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.
Schedule regular hearing tests
Having routine hearing tests is the most effective way to identify any potential hearing issues or changes in your hearing early on.
Book your hearing test now
If you are currently managing hearing loss, think about these lifestyle changes and set up a meeting with a skilled hearing professional as soon as possible.