The risks of health conditions often increase with age, and there are many health conditions that are interlinked. Some common health problems are associated with other health conditions too, and taking steps to address one of them can result in positive improvements to the other.
Hearing loss is particularly common among older people, including in Clearwater and Pinellas County, but what is less commonly known are the risks and challenges linked to hearing loss and how this can affect other aspects of a person’s overall health. We’ll look at some of the main challenges and health risks associated with hearing loss.
Heart disease
You may be surprised to hear that heart health is linked to hearing health. This is because poor circulation can impact hearing health and potentially cause hearing loss. When your circulation is not functioning well, it can affect various aspects of your body and your mental health. Taking steps to improve your body’s circulation and heart health, such as regular exercise and a nutritious diet, can help to make positive changes to your overall health and reduce the risks associated with hearing loss and heart health.
Memory loss and dementia
When problems with your hearing are left untreated, they can lead to worse health problems such as memory loss and dementia. As the risk of these conditions is already increased among older people, taking steps to mitigate these potential concerns should be a priority for people as they approach their senior years. Without being able to hear properly, your brain struggles to process and optimize sounds. Over time, this can result in your brain becoming weaker and losing its ability to properly process information and noises. Over a long period, this can lead to permanent dementia and memory loss.
Declining physical abilities
The results of hearing loss can be wide-ranging and can include impacts on your physical abilities, such as walking or running. Hearing loss can result in dizziness and problems with balance, which can therefore result in difficulties standing up, walking for long periods, or undertaking more intense physical exercise. People who are suffering from hearing loss may also feel anxious about moving around too much or spending time outdoors as they are not able to hear what is going on around them properly.
Fatigue
Hearing loss can cause people to feel significantly more tired at the end of the day, especially if they have been trying to engage in conversations or trying to focus on something else where sound is involved. Straining to listen to other people or focusing too much on trying to watch a movie can leave people feeling extremely tired and fatigued after just a few hours. Excessive tiredness and exhaustion can result in burnout and other serious conditions related to heart health and other aspects of your well-being.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a common health problem related to hearing, where people hear buzzing or ringing sounds in their ears. When hearing loss begins to develop, this can be a common symptom and can be frustrating and irritating for people who suffer from it. Some solutions and therapies, such as talking therapy and hearing tools like hearing aids, may help to improve the symptoms of tinnitus. Taking steps to improve hearing loss could also help to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.
Getting help to improve your hearing health
It’s important to take the right steps to ensure you are looking after your hearing health. In some cases, hearing aids can be a useful solution to many of the problems associated with hearing loss. In Clearwater and Pinellas County, you can find quality support from Countryside Hearing Aid Services.
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