We all know that an active lifestyle is vital for keeping your body healthy, but did you know that exercise could also help your hearing?
Age-related hearing loss has been linked to heart health – simply put, good cardiovascular health increases blood flow around your body. And good blood flow is necessary to help your hearing and ears function properly.
In terms of general health, it’s recommended that you engage in some type of aerobic exercise, for about 30 minutes, five times per week. This will help you maintain a good level of fitness, which in turn will help reduce the well-know health risk factors, increase your body’s immune system and maintain a good level of hearing sensitivity.
Being more active can also reduce the risk of obesity, which can be linked to hearing loss. A study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital1 in Boston found that women who had a BMI (Body Mass Index) greater than 25, and therefore classed obese, had a higher risk of hearing loss than those with a normal BMI. A high BMI may be linked to reduced blood flow to the inner ear, resulting in cell death and therefore hearing loss.
Being less active and having a greater risk of diabetes as a result can also have a profound affect on your hearing. Poor blood sugar control can lead to damage of the nerves and blood cells in the inner hear, resulting in hearing loss. Being more active and reducing your waistline can also reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.
As well as being a contributing factor to hearing health, being active generally just makes you feel better within yourself. And when you feel well, you have the confidence to get out there and enjoy life.
If you think your hearing needs to be checked, book a free hearing check up (worth $75) and you could win a Fitbit Flex.
