Your body is similar to an ecosystem. In nature, all of the birds and fish will suffer if something happens to the pond; and all of the plants and animals that rely on the birds will disappear if the birds disappear. We may not recognize it but our body works on very similar principals. That’s the reason why something which appears isolated, like hearing loss, can be linked to a large number of other ailments and diseases.
In a way, that’s just more proof of your body’s ecosystem-like interdependence. When something affects your hearing, it might also influence your brain. We call these situations comorbid, a term that is specialized and signifies when two ailments affect each other but don’t always have a cause and effect relationship.
We can find out a lot concerning our bodies’ ecosystem by understanding conditions that are comorbid with hearing loss.
Hearing Loss And The Conditions That Are Related to it
So, let’s assume that you’ve been recognizing the symptoms of hearing loss for the last couple of months. You’ve been having a tough time making out conversation when you go out to eat. Your television’s volume is getting louder and louder. And some sounds just feel a little more distant. It would be a good choice at this point to set up an appointment with a hearing professional.
Your hearing loss is connected to numerous health issues whether your aware of it or not. Comorbidity with hearing loss has been documented with the following health problems.
- Vertigo and falls: your inner ear is your main tool for balance. There are some forms of hearing loss that can wreak havoc with your inner ear, causing dizziness and vertigo. Falls are more and more dangerous as you age and falls can occur whenever someone loses their balance
- Depression: a whole host of issues can be the consequence of social isolation because of hearing loss, many of which are related to your mental health. So anxiety and depression, not surprisingly, have been shown in several studies, to have a high rate of comorbidity with hearing loss.
- Dementia: a higher risk of dementia has been associated with hearing loss, although the base cause of that relationship is uncertain. Many of these incidents of dementia and also cognitive decline can be reduced, according to research, by wearing hearing aids.
- Diabetes: similarly, diabetes can wreak havoc with your nervous system all over your body (particularly in your extremities). one of the areas particularly likely to be affected are the nerves in the ear. Hearing loss can be entirely caused by this damage. But your symptoms can be compounded because diabetes related nerve damage can cause you to be more prone to hearing loss caused by other factors.
- Cardiovascular disease: occasionally hearing loss doesn’t have anything to do with cardiovascular conditions. In other instances, cardiovascular problems can make you more susceptible to hearing loss. The reason for this is that trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear is one of the first signs of cardiovascular disease. As that trauma gets worse, your hearing might suffer as an outcome.
What Can You Do?
It can seem a bit frightening when all those health conditions get added together. But one thing should be kept in mind: dealing with your hearing loss can have tremendous positive effects. While scientists and researchers don’t exactly know, for instance, why dementia and hearing loss so often show up together, they do know that treating hearing loss can significantly lower your dementia risks.
So no matter what your comorbid condition might be, the best course of action is to get your hearing examined.
Part of an Ecosystem
That’s the reason why more medical professionals are looking at hearing health with fresh eyes. Your ears are being viewed as a part of your overall health profile rather than being a specific and limited issue. We’re beginning to think about the body as an interrelated environment in other words. Hearing loss isn’t an isolated situation. So it’s significant to pay attention to your health as a whole.