Heart Disease and Hearing Loss Connection?
- Wendy Schreuder, M.S.
Question
I recently read that hearing loss is more common in people with heart disease or those who've had a heart attack. Why would this be?
Answer
Many articles have been written about the connection between decreased blood flow from cardiovascular disease and hearing loss. The inner ear is very small, and changes in blood flow in the body can cause the restriction of blood flow to this delicate system, causing irreversible damage. This is also the case with some forms of diabetes.
I recommend you speak with your doctor about getting a baseline hearing test if you have not had one and are being treated for cardiovascular disease. Any changes in hearing can be monitored in the future.
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