Summer is a great time of year for getting active, whether you’re hitting the gym, joining a sports team or out on the golf course. Exercise has wide-ranging benefits for all aspects of health, including hearing health. As hearing health professionals, we’re interested in exploring this connection.
How Exercise and Hearing Health Are Connected
Inside the ear are thousands of nerve endings that are critical to hearing. They are shaped like tiny hairs, which is why they are commonly called “hair cells.” They move in response to sound waves that enter the ear, and their movement triggers electrical signals that are sent from the ears to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.
Like all nerve endings, those hair cells need blood flow to function properly. Blood supplies them with oxygen and other nutrients. To that end, the body’s cardiovascular system—the heart and blood vessels—is closely connected to hearing health. Exercise strengthens the cardiovascular system, which in turn keeps your hearing in top shape.
What the Research Says
A 2021 study analyzing adults aged 60-69 found that those who maintained an exercise regimen, even a moderate one, had significantly better hearing than those who did not. Moreover, adults in the study who were less physically active and led sedentary lifestyles were more likely to have hearing loss.
Workout Tips
To get the most out of exercising, make sure you’re doing it properly. We recommend that you:
- Don’t strain when weightlifting, as this can put pressure on the heart, ears and brain.
- Don’t hold your breath.
- Don’t smash weights, as the resulting loud clatter can reach untenable noise levels and lead to tinnitus or noise-induced hearing loss.
Other Ways to Benefit Your Hearing Health
While working out, you may plug in headphones and listen to music. If you do, make sure the volume isn’t too loud, as headphones at maximum volume can cause hearing damage. Instead, keep the volume at no more than 60%.
We also recommend that you be proactive with changes in your hearing health. If you notice any changes to your hearing, have your hearing tested to monitor for possible changes.
Audiologists are a great resource for learning more about hearing health and its connections to overall health; call us at Lakelands ENT to learn more!
