Each year on February 6, the American Heart Association observes Go Red for Women, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of heart health in women. Across the United States, people dress in red, share vital information about cardiovascular health, hold special events, and donate in support research and treatment.
Why is this important to Sertoma International? Not only are women a vital part of our membership, leadership and staff, but this awareness also aligns with our national hearing health mission. Research continues to show a strong connection between hearing health and overall well-being, including our hearts!
The Heart and Hearing Relationship
Poor cardiovascular health can restrict blood flow to the inner ear, damaging delicate and essential hair cells and potentially leading to hearing loss. Studies suggest that an estimated 54% of individuals with heart disease also experience hearing loss.
In fact, in late 2024, Chinese researchers reported that middle-aged and older adults with sight and hearing impairments face a higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack as compared to those with “good” eyesight and hearing. The findings were reported in the Journal of the American Heart Association, which made sure to ascertain that research showed an association between sensory loss and cardiovascular disease without necessarily proving concrete causation between the two.
However, there are known and proven relationships between some specific heart conditions and hearing disorders. For instance, diagnoses like abnormal blood vessels or narrowed or hardened arteries are known to be a cause of pulsatile tinnitus. With this type of tinnitus, the ringing sound in the ear resembles a heartbeat.
Strokes are another risk factor for hearing loss. When a stroke happens, the brain’s blood supply becomes blocked. This impacts the parts of the brain that control hearing and balance, leading to hearing changes, including hearing loss, dizziness, and balance issues. For some patients, they may develop difficulties recognizing spoken words and sounds, maybe even to the point that they will experience auditory hallucinations (i.e., hearing things that do not exist).
What We Can Do
While some risk factors are always going to be genetic, there are steps we can take to help improve our cardiovascular health and lower our risk for hearing loss. This includes:
- A balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and health fats
- Limiting sodium and added sugars
- Abstaining from smoking
- Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol under control
- Healthy weight and stress management
- Have regular check ups with your healthcare provider(s).
And of course, getting regular exercise is hugely important to your cardiovascular health. Industry best practices suggest individuals should get 150 minutes of moderate heart-healthy exercise each week. Research from Miami University has found a link between cardiovascular fitness levels and “better” hearing, particularly for those aged 50 and older.
For more on this topic, check out these articles from the American Academy of Audiology, BBC Science, and the American Heart Association.