February is American Heart Month, and we want to take a moment to talk about how our hearts and overall cardiovascular system are tied to our hearing, and how keeping both systems healthy can lead to a healthier and better life.
Heart disease is a big issue in the United States. In fact, it’s the leading cause of death for both men and women. According to the American Heart Association, almost 787,000 deaths in 2011 were linked to heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the cause of almost 610,000 deaths per year.
Cardiovascular disease affects mostly the heart and the blood vessels. Plaque will build up around the arteries, restricting blood flow and resulting in a condition called atherosclerosis, which leads directly to heart disease. What you may not realize, is that there is not only a cardiovascular health link to heart health — it’s also connected to hearing health.
Our ears need proper blood flow to function their best
Blood flow is extremely important to all organs of the body, and the inner ear is particularly sensitive. When there isn’t enough blood flow to the inner ears, it can cause nerve damage, impacting a person’s ability to hear. According to ENT Today, the nerves residing inside the inner ear are so sensitive that they are often the first parts of the body to be affected by cardiovascular disease.
With that being said, healthy hearing can be indicative of a healthy cardiovascular system, and a healthy cardiovascular system can help ensure our hearing remains healthy.
Hearing well can reduce stress, which is good for the heart
When it comes to taking care of your cardiovascular health, reducing stress is one of the best ways to ensure your heart is healthy. Something that can cause a lot of stress is miscommunication, especially among loved ones.
A harmful side effect of hearing loss is the breakdown of communication between you and your loved ones. Research has shown, that people who do not treat their hearing loss often become isolated from loved ones. Even communicating the little things is important to strengthening your overall relationship and reducing everyday stress. Treating your hearing loss not only improves your hearing, but it can also improve your relationships and reduce your stress — which can lead to a lessened risk of cardiovascular disease.
Livio hearing aids can help keep your hearing and heart healthy
One way to help keep your cardiovascular system healthy is by exercising regularly. A revolutionary new tool to hear your best and track your exercise is our Livio® AI hearing aids. Thanks to built-in 3D sensors and artificial intelligence, these cutting-edge hearing aids let you track both your brain and body activity — based partly on the amount of time you spend exercising — which is an excellent way to reduce your risk of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.
Healthy hearing, a healthy heart and healthy relationships are perfect focuses for American Heart Month and also the month of Valentine’s Day. We encourage you to take control of all three this month and all year long!
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