Could Regular Exercise Help Your ENT Health?

Looking for a little more motivation to go to the gym? A recent study from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) may have just given us one more reason to hit the treadmill. While we all know regular exercise boosts your energy and immune system, this new study suggests that your hearing is directly tied to your heart’s health.

Hearing loss can be caused by several factors: loss of inner ear hair follicles, physical damage to your eardrum and noise-induced hearing loss. In this study, it was discovered that decreased blood flow to your head can also be a major cause of hearing loss.

Author of the study, Dr. Kathleen Hutchinson, said she believed cardiovascular fitness contributes to better “neural integrity” in the cochlea, the part of the ear responsible for hearing. When blood flow is significant to the outer hair cells, they receive more oxygen. However, Hutchinson did admit that people who work out regularly and try to be “heart-healthy” probably also lead a more health conscious life, and thus take precautions against disease and limit their exposure to loud noises.

Though cardiovascular health is important for people of any age, it was shown to be especially crucial for people over 50. It was discovered that one participant in his 50s, who worked out five days a week, had the hearing capacity of a 30-year-old.

The U.S. Surgeons General’s report on Physical Activity and Health recommends everyone, regardless of age or gender, engage in aerobic exercise (biking, swimming, running or walking) for roughly 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

Unfortunately though, not everyone will be able to take advantage of the study’s findings. Hutchinson said that people who already experience hearing loss or are genetically predisposed to hearing sensitivity will not benefit from increased cardiovascular activities.

At Florida ENT, we are committed to helping patients who suffer from hearing loss at all levels of severity and at any stage. Utilizing the latest advances in medicine and state-of-the-art techniques, our goal is to treat our patients with comfort and compassion. To learn more about the services we provide, please call us today at 407-944-3340 to schedule an appointment.