Hypertension

Hypertension

Both hypertension and hearing loss affect millions of people and can take a toll on quality of life, but keeping your blood pressure down could help keep your hearing up.

One study of more than 270 men and women ages 45 to 64, for example, found a strong relationship between high blood pressure and age-related hearing impairment, with hypertensive patients having a higher threshold below which they couldn’t hear — indicating hearing loss.

The study didn’t pinpoint the causal link between the two conditions but suggested that hypertension may damage inner-ear blood vessels, accelerating age-related hearing loss.

Eating a balanced diet, staying active, keeping stress in check, keeping within a normal blood pressure range, and addressing hearing problems early can go a long way in taking care of your circulatory system and your hearing health.