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 rely on the birds will disappear if the birds disappear. We might not realize it but our body functions on very comparable principals. That’s the reason why something that seems isolated, like hearing loss, can be linked to a large number of other diseases and ailments.
In a way, that’s simply more proof of your body’s ecosystem-like interdependence. Your brain might also be affected if something affects your hearing. We call these circumstances comorbid, a term that is specialized and indicates when two ailments affect each other but don’t necessarily have a cause and effect relationship.
We can learn a lot concerning our bodies’ ecosystem by comprehending ailments 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 signs of hearing loss for the last few months. You’ve been having a difficult time hearing what people are saying when you go out for a bite. You’ve been turning up the volume on your television. And some sounds seem so distant. It would be a good choice at this point to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist.
Your hearing loss is connected to a number of health conditions whether your aware of it or not. Some of the health ailments that have reported comorbidity with hearing loss include:
- Diabetes: similarly, diabetes can have a negative affect on your nervous system all over your body (especially in your extremities). the nerves in the ear are especially likely to be damaged. This damage can cause hearing loss all on its own. But your symptoms can be multiplied because diabetes related nerve damage can make you more prone to hearing loss caused by other factors.
- Cardiovascular disease: hearing loss and cardiovascular disease are not always connected. But at times hearing loss can be intensified 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. Your hearing could suffer as a result of the of that trauma.
- Vertigo and falls: your inner ear is your primary tool for balance. There are some types of hearing loss that can play havoc with your inner ear, leading to dizziness and vertigo. Any loss of balance can, of course, cause falls, and as you age, falls will become increasingly hazardous.
- Dementia: a higher risk of dementia has been linked to hearing loss, although it’s not clear what the base cause is. Many of these incidents of dementia and also cognitive decline can be slowed, according to research, by wearing hearing aids.
- Depression: a whole range of issues can be the consequence of social isolation due to 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.
Is There Anything That Can be Done?
When you add all of those related health conditions on top of each other, it can look a little intimidating. But one thing should be kept in mind: huge positive affect can be gained by managing your hearing loss. Researchers and scientists recognize that if hearing loss is managed, the risk of dementia substantially lowers although they don’t really know precisely why dementia and hearing loss show up together to begin with.
So regardless of what your comorbid condition might be, the best course of action is to have your hearing tested.
Part of an Ecosystem
That’s the reason why more medical professionals are viewing hearing health with new eyes. Your ears are being considered as a part of your overall health profile rather than being a targeted and limited issue. In other words, we’re starting to view the body more like an interrelated ecosystem. Hearing loss doesn’t necessarily happen in isolation. So it’s more significant than ever that we pay attention to the totality, not to the proverbial pond or the birds in isolation, but to your health as a whole.