Medical research has uncovered a link you should know about. As reported by the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), cardiovascular disease – including inadequate blood flow and trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear – can contribute to hearing loss. Though it is still unclear why there is this connection, it’s been suggested that low-frequency hearing loss may be an early warning sign for cardiovascular events like heart disease or stroke.
“The inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow that it is possible that abnormalities in the cardiovascular system could be noted [in the inner ear] earlier than in other less sensitive parts of the body,” explains David R. Friedland, M.D, Ph.D., Professor and Vice-Chair of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
That’s why, if you’re 40 or older, it’s important to get your hearing tested as a routine part of your medical care. Detecting hearing loss – as well as heart disease – will allow you to take the proper steps to improve your quality of life and help you enjoy more years ahead.
You can find out more about the link between hearing loss and cardiovascular disease at http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/heart-disease-and-hearing-loss-linked-so-get-your-hearing-checked-for-world-heart-day-bhi-advises-224502101.html.
