The Healthy Way to Better Hearing

Protecting Your Health Protects Your Hearing

Have you ever been at a very loud event, such as a concert or an action movie, and wished you had brought some ear protection? When a car blasts its woofers and tweeters at a stoplight, do you roll up your window to save your ears? These reactions are healthy ones. Protection from loud noises is a strong defense to keep your hearing. The Hearing Solution of Sacramento commends you if you care for your ears in this way. But our staff wants you to be aware that caring for your health can also protect your hearing. What’s on your dinner plate and other habits all play a role in maintaining health and wellness.

Cardiovascular Health and Hearing

When most people think of cardiovascular (CV) health and fitness, they usually think of the cardio part of the word, or heart health. And when the heart’s arteries are free and clear of blockages, it’s getting all the oxygen it needs and that is a very good thing. But it’s not just your heart arteries that can have blockages from plaque and too much cholesterol. Other less life-threatening health issues can be due to poor vascular health, related to your blood vessels. When these vessels get clogged anywhere in the body, complications may result. These problems can include back pain, leg pain, eye damage, memory issues, dementia, indigestion, and even hearing loss.

That’s correct, your very complex and precious hearing system can be affected by poor circulation. The good news is everything you’ve heard that’s good for your heart is good for your hearing too!

Protecting Your Circulation

The American Heart Association recommends seven simple steps for improving cardiovascular health. And they call it “Life’s Simple 7”:

1. Manage Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. When your blood pressure stays within healthy ranges, you reduce the strain on your heart, arteries, and kidneys and that keeps you healthier longer.

2. Control Cholesterol

High cholesterol contributes to plaque, which can clog arteries and lead to heart disease and stroke. When you control your cholesterol, you are giving your arteries their best chance to remain clear of blockages.

3. Reduce Blood Sugar

Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose (or blood sugar) that our bodies use for energy. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage your heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves.

4. Get Active

Living an active life is one of the most rewarding gifts you can give yourself and those you love. Simply put, daily physical activity increases your length and quality of life.

5. Eat Better

A healthy diet is one of your best weapons for fighting cardiovascular disease. When you eat a heart-healthy diet, you improve your chances for feeling good and staying healthy – for life!

6. Lose Weight

When you shed extra fat and unnecessary pounds, you reduce the burden on your heart, lungs, blood vessels and skeleton. You give yourself the gift of active living, you lower your blood pressure and you help yourself feel better, too.

7. Stop Smoking

Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. If you smoke, quitting is the best thing you can do for your health.

Taking active steps like these preserves your overall health while simultaneously protecting the circulatory system that gives your ears the resources they need. So roll up those car windows to drown out the loud traffic noises, keep earplugs handy during concerts and blockbuster movies, and fill up that grocery cart with healthful foods to keep everything from your nose to your toes brimming with heart-supplied oxygen.