Thirty or Older? The Link
Between Cardiovascular and Hearing Health Could Pertain to You, BHI Advises,
Urging Hearing Checks
Washington,
DC, January 21, 2013—In recognition of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day®, the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is alerting Gen Xers and baby
boomers of the connection between cardiovascular and hearing health. A growing
body of research indicates that a person’s hearing and cardiovascular health
frequently correspond. In response, BHI is urging people with cardiovascular
disease to get their hearing checked. Likewise, BHI is urging people with
hearing loss to pay close attention to their cardiovascular health.
The Heart-Hearing
Connection
The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow. Studies have shown that a healthy cardiovascular system—a person’s heart, arteries, and veins—has a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, inadequate blood flow and trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear can contribute to hearing loss.
The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow. Studies have shown that a healthy cardiovascular system—a person’s heart, arteries, and veins—has a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, inadequate blood flow and trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear can contribute to hearing loss.
The authors of a study published
in the American Journal of Audiology concluded that the negative influence
of impaired cardiovascular health on both the peripheral and central auditory
system—and the potential positive influence of improved cardiovascular health
on these same systems—have been found through a sizable body of research that
has been conducted over more than six decades.
David R. Friedland, MD,
PhD, Professor and Vice-Chair of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences at
the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, has been studying the
relationship between cardiovascular and hearing health for years. According to
Friedland: “The inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow that it is possible that
any abnormalities in the cardiovascular system could be noted here earlier than
in other less sensitive parts of the body.”
In their study, published in The
Laryngoscope, Dr. Friedland and fellow researchers found that
audiogram pattern correlates strongly with cerebrovascular and peripheral
arterial disease and may represent a screening test for those at risk. They
even concluded that patients with low-frequency hearing loss should be regarded
as at risk for cardiovascular events, and appropriate referrals should be
considered.
According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the leading
cause of death in the United States. For more information about cardiovascular
health and how people can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke, visit www.heart.org.www.GoRedForWomen.org, and www.hearttruth.gov.
