Your body is a lot like an ecosystem. In the natural world, if something happens to the pond, all of the birds and fish are impacted as well; and all of the animals and plants that depend on the birds will disappear if the birds disappear. We might not realize it but our body works on very similar principals. That’s why something that appears isolated, like hearing loss, can be linked to a wide variety of other ailments and diseases.
In a sense, that’s just more proof of your body’s ecosystem-like interdependence. Your brain may also be affected if something affects your hearing. We call these conditions comorbid, a name that is specialized and signifies when two conditions have an affect on each other but don’t always have a cause and effect relationship.
We can find out a lot concerning our bodies’ ecosystem by comprehending conditions that are comorbid with hearing loss.
Hearing Loss And The Disorders That Are Related to it
So, let’s suppose that you’ve been noticing the symptoms of hearing loss for the last several months. You’ve been having a tough time hearing what people are saying when you go out for a bite. You’ve been cranking up the volume on your tv. And certain sounds just seem a bit more distant. When this is the situation, most people will make an appointment with a hearing professional (this is the smart thing to do, actually).
Your hearing loss is linked to several health issues whether you recognize it or not. Comorbidity with hearing loss has been documented with the following health conditions.
- Dementia: untreated hearing loss has been linked to a higher chance of dementia, although the underlying cause of that relationship is uncertain. Many of these cases of dementia and also cognitive decline can be reduced, according to research, by wearing hearing aids.
- Depression: a whole host of problems can be the consequence of social isolation because of hearing loss, some of which are related to your mental health. So depression and anxiety, not surprisingly, have been shown in study after study, to have a high rate of comorbidity with hearing loss.
- Cardiovascular disease: sometimes hearing loss has nothing to do with cardiovascular conditions. In other situations, cardiovascular issues can make you more susceptible to hearing loss. The reason for this is that trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear is one of the first signs of cardiovascular disease. As that trauma escalates, your hearing might suffer as an outcome.
- Vertigo and falls: your principal tool for balance is your inner ear. Vertigo and dizziness can be created by some types of hearing loss because they have a negative impact on the inner ear. Any loss of balance can, naturally, cause falls, and as you age, falls can become increasingly dangerous.
- Diabetes: additionally, diabetes can wreak havoc with your overall body’s nervous system (specifically in your extremities). one of the areas particularly likely to be affected are the nerves in the ear. This damage can cause loss of hearing all on its own. But your symptoms can be multiplied because diabetes related nerve damage can cause you to be more prone to hearing loss caused by other factors.
Is There Anything That You Can do?
It can seem a little intimidating when all those health conditions get added together. But one thing should be kept in mind: huge positive affect can be gained by dealing with your hearing loss. Researchers and scientists know that if hearing loss is treated, the risk of dementia significantly lowers although they don’t really understand precisely why dementia and hearing loss show up together to begin with.
So the best way to go, no matter what comorbid condition you might be concerned about, is to get your hearing tested.
Part of an Ecosystem
That’s the reason why more health care specialists are looking at hearing health with fresh eyes. Instead of being a somewhat limited and specific area of concern, your ears are seen as closely linked to your general wellbeing. In other words, we’re beginning to perceive the body more like an interconnected environment. Hearing loss isn’t an isolated situation. So it’s relevant to pay attention to your health as a whole.