Heart disease is terrifying, especially as it’s the number one cause of death in the U.S. About 1 in 20 people who are 20 years old or older are living with it.
At doctor’s visits, your healthcare provider has probably warned you about risk factors, such as age, autoimmune conditions, alcohol, genetics, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, stress and more. Knowing the signs is also crucial; they include chest pain; indigestion; arm, jaw or back pain; swollen ankles; fatigue; heart palpitations and several others.
Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist. Here’s How Women Can Cut Their Heart Disease Risk in Half’
One condition that’s closely linked with heart disease may be a bit more unexpected, though: hearing loss.
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How Hearing Health and Heart Health Are Related
A 2010 research review in the American Journal of Audiology and a 2024 meta-analysis in Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery found a close relationship between hearing loss and cardiovascular disease. So, it’s clear that research supports this tie.
Licensed healthcare professionals share two possible explanations.
A lack of blood flow from the heart can affect hearing
The main reason, perhaps, pertains to blood flow—and more specifically, not enough of it. The heart pumps blood throughout the body to keep each piece functioning at its best. So when it doesn’t, other organs and structures suffer.
“Studies have shown an association between hearing loss and cardiovascular health, presumably through negatively affecting the blood supply to the organs of hearing,” says Dr. Michael Yong, MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist (ENT) and fellowship-trained neurorhinologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
The ear is especially at risk, in a way. “As the ear has some of the smallest arteries and blood vessels, any disruption in the blood flow, like that associated with cardiovascular disease, can cause irreversible damage to the various parts of the auditory system,” explains Dr. Victoria Zambrano, Au.D., an audiologist with Miracle-Ear. “More specifically to the nerve endings within the cochlear, which can lead to nerve damage, the most common form of hearing loss.”
This can get worse over time, she continues. But it tends to happen slowly, so it often goes undiagnosed.
Further, hearing loss can contribute to the development of dementia. While experts don’t completely understand how, they have a few theories. Those include internal body damage, people spending less time with loved ones because they can’t hear well (social connection is a protective factor for dementia) and reductions in certain proteins.
“Think of it as the ripple effect, like a pebble in the water,” Dr. Zambrano says. “It may start small, but it can continue on and affect all the parts of our body in time.”
Heart disease and hearing loss share risk factors
Some of those aforementioned heart disease risk factors can also affect your hearing, believe it or not.
“For instance, risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes will predispose patients to form blockages in their arteries that may lead to heart disease,” says Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the structural heart program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California. “Similarly, these blockages may also form in the arteries that supply the ear with blood, thus causing damage to hearing.”
How To Protect Your Hearing and Heart Health
Try to not get too down—you can take steps to prevent those problems. From a more hearing-specific POV, Dr. Zambrano says:
Prevention is key
Hearing loss often goes undiagnosed. While it can be irreversible, you can prevent it by avoiding loud noises and wearing hearing protection.
Related: The #1 Food (Yes, Food!) That Helps With Hearing, According to Audiologists
Know your family’s health history
Some factors that can contribute to these conditions—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes—can be partially genetic. Testing for and monitoring these conditions can help.
Be vocal with your healthcare provider
Don’t be afraid to ask questions—it can open the door to concerns you may have not considered. Case in point: Is it just me who didn’t realize high cholesterol could affect your ears?!
Get routine hearing tests
Facilities like Miracle-Ear provide free screenings that allow you to establish your baseline hearing abilities. From that point, you can monitor any possible progression.
Get help when you need it
Don’t wait until the problem worsens. The saying “use it or lose it” rings true here. Getting the care you need ASAP may mean a better quality of life.
Broadly, Dr. Chen and Dr. Yong recommend the following:
Related: If You’re Struggling to Hit Your Fitness Goals, It’s Time To Try ‘Cozy Cardio’
- Engage in regular physical activity, especially cardio, that can strengthen the cardiovascular system and improve blood flow
- Eat a variety of foods and nutrients
- Get an adequate amount of quality sleep (so seven to nine uninterrupted hours)
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol
- Reduce stressors as much as possible and find healthy ways to cope
- Get yearly check-ups at your healthcare provider’s office and assess for the risk factors
“This will best allow blood vessels to remain healthy and open, and reduce the chances of any potential damage resulting from limitations in blood flow,” Dr. Chen explains.
Hear me out: When you think about your health goals, think about adding nutritious foods and moving your body in enjoyable ways—but also about protecting your hearing. It affects your body and life more than I think a lot of us realize.
Up Next:
Related: The 1 Strange Habit That Can Help With Heart Attack Risk, According to Cardiologists
Sources
- Dr. Michael Yong, MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist (ENT) and fellowship-trained neurorhinologist
- Dr. Victoria Zambrano, Au.D., an audiologist
- Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist
- Heart Disease Facts, CDC
- The influence of cardiovascular health on peripheral and central auditory function in adults: a research review, American Journal of Audiology
- Association Between Hearing Loss and Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-analysis, Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery