Your body is similar to an ecosystem. In nature, all of the fish and birds will be affected if something goes wrong with the pond; and when the birds disappear so too do all of the plants and animals that rely on those birds. The human body, commonly unbeknownst to us, operates on very comparable methods of interconnectedness. That’s the reason why a wide variety of afflictions can be connected to something which at first appears so isolated like hearing loss.
In some respects, that’s just more proof of your body’s ecosystem-like interdependence. When something affects your hearing, it may also impact your brain. We call these situations comorbid, a term that is specialized and signifies when two ailments have an affect on each other but don’t necessarily have a cause and effect relationship.
We can find out a lot concerning our bodies’ ecosystem by comprehending ailments that are comorbid with hearing loss.
Hearing Loss And The Conditions That Are Linked to it
So, let’s assume that you’ve been noticing the symptoms of hearing loss for the past few months. It’s harder to follow conversations in restaurants. Your television’s volume is getting louder and louder. And some sounds seem so far away. At this point, the majority of people will make an appointment with a hearing professional (this is the practical thing to do, actually).
Your hearing loss is linked to a number of health issues whether you recognize it or not. Some of the health problems that have documented comorbidity with hearing loss include:
- Diabetes: similarly, your whole nervous system can be negatively influenced by diabetes (specifically in your extremities). the nerves in the ear are especially likely to be affected. This damage can cause hearing loss by itself. But your symptoms can be compounded because diabetes related nerve damage can cause you to be more prone to hearing loss from other factors.
- Depression: social separation associated with hearing loss can cause a whole host of issues, some of which are related to your mental health. So depression and anxiety, 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 linked to hearing loss, although it’s not clear what the root cause is. Many of these cases of dementia and also cognitive decline can be slowed, according to research, by using hearing aids.
- Cardiovascular disease: sometimes hearing loss doesn’t have anything to do with cardiovascular disease. But sometimes hearing loss can be worsened by cardiovascular disease. The explanation for this is that trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear is one of the first symptoms of cardiovascular disease. As that trauma gets worse, your hearing might suffer as an outcome.
- Vertigo and falls: your primary tool for balance is your inner ear. Vertigo and dizziness can be triggered by some forms of hearing loss because they have a damaging influence on the inner ear. Falls are increasingly dangerous as you age and falls can happen whenever someone loses their balance
What Can You Do?
It can seem a little intimidating when all those health conditions get added together. But one thing should be kept in mind: treating your hearing loss can have huge positive impacts. Even though researchers and scientists don’t exactly know, for example, why dementia and hearing loss so often show up together, they do know that treating hearing loss can substantially lower your risk of dementia.
So regardless of what your comorbid condition might be, the best course of action is to have your hearing checked.
Part of an Ecosystem
This is why health care specialists are rethinking the importance of how to treat hearing loss. Your ears are being regarded as a part of your total health profile instead of being a targeted and limited concern. In a nutshell, we’re beginning to perceive the body more like an interrelated environment. Hearing loss isn’t always an isolated situation. So it’s more important than ever that we keep your eye on the entirety, not to the proverbial pond or the birds in isolation, but to your health as a whole.
