Lots of people are coping with high levels of stress today. Unfortunately, this puts them at risk for various health issues. Left unchecked, it can also result in hearing loss.
Stress’ Effect on Your Hearing
When you’re continually stressed, your body doesn’t get a clear signal telling it to return to normal. This is the signal that your body receives when you undergo traumatic or acute stress. When this happens, it can result in health problems including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other illnesses – all of which can affect your hearing.
Health Issues and Hearing Loss
Any illness that restricts your circulation will have a negative impact on your hearing. This is mainly due to the fact that your hearing nerve center, the cochlea, is largely dependent upon you having good circulation. Good circulation to the cochlea is important so that it might better identify and transmit sounds to send to your brain.
Each of the sensors in your cochlea (found in your inner ear) is responsible for translating a specific frequency. Therefore, when one of these sensors becomes damaged the ability to send and receive messages is also affected. When you lose your hearing in this way it’s referred to as sensorineural hearing loss.
Learning to Cope with Stress
Unfortunately, sensorineural hearing loss typically isn’t reversible. However, if you reduce the amount of stress in your life you can help keep circulation flowing properly. According to the American Psychological Association, there are 5 things you can do to reduce stress here:
- Take a break from your stress. Even 20 minutes away can help you to feel less overwhelmed by giving you a new perspective.
- Engage in 20 minutes of exercise daily. This will provide your body and mind with health benefits.
- Laugh and smile. Moving your facial muscles will ease tension and send a happy signal to your brain.
- Talk to someone who understands what you’re going through and can provide you with positive feedback.
- Meditation is a great way to help your body and mind focus and relax.
Talking to Your Hearing Healthcare Professional
When you find that you’re not hearing as well as you have in the past you should make an appointment to talk to a hearing healthcare professional. They’ll start by getting to know about your medical history, especially your personal hearing health. Additionally, they’ll want to know about any hearing loss or other concerns you may have. Afterward, they’ll administer a hearing evaluation – something that’s noninvasive. In doing so they’ll be able to determine if you have any hearing loss. This hearing test results will allow your hearing professional to create a customized plan of treatment that’s based on your hearing expectations, lifestyle, and budget. So, regardless of why you’re suffering from hearing loss, when you live in Clearwater, FL you should make sure you reach out to Countryside Hearing Aid Services for the care you need.
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