These Diseases Have Been Related to Hearing Loss

Your body is similar to an ecosystem. In nature, all of the fish and birds will be affected if something happens to the pond; and when the birds go away so too do all of the plants and animals that rely on those birds. The human body, commonly unbeknownst to us, operates on very similar methods of interconnection. That's the reason why something that appears isolated, such as hearing loss, can be linked to a wide variety of other diseases and ailments.

This is, in a sense, proof of the interdependence of your body and it's similarity to an ecosystem. Your brain might also be impacted if something affects your hearing. We call these situations comorbid, a fancy (and specialized) term that demonstrates a link between two conditions while not necessarily articulating a cause-and-effect relationship.

We can find out a lot concerning our bodies' ecosystem by understanding conditions that are comorbid with hearing loss.

Conditions Associated With Hearing Loss

So, let's assume that you've been noticing the signs of hearing loss for the last couple of months. You've been having a hard time making out what people are saying when you go out for a bite. You've been turning the volume up on your television. And some sounds just feel a bit further away. It would be a smart choice at this point to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist.

Whether you're aware of it or not, your hearing loss is linked to numerous other health issues. Some of the health problems that have reported comorbidity with hearing loss include:

• Cardiovascular disease: hearing loss and cardiovascular conditions are not necessarily connected. In other situations, cardiovascular problems can make you more subject to hearing loss. 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 may suffer as a result of the of that trauma.
• Diabetes: similarly, your overall nervous system can be influenced in a negative way by diabetes (especially in your extremities). the nerves in the ear are particularly likely to be affected. Hearing loss can be entirely caused by this damage. But your symptoms can be multiplied because diabetes related nerve damage can cause you to be more prone to hearing loss from other factors.
• Vertigo and falls: your inner ear is your primary tool for balance. Vertigo and dizziness can be created by some forms of hearing loss because they have a damaging impact on the inner ear. Falls are more and more dangerous as you get older and falls can happen whenever there is a loss of balance
• Dementia: a higher risk of dementia has been connected to hearing loss, although the underlying cause of that relationship is not clear. Many of these cases of dementia and also cognitive decline can be reduced, according to research, by using hearing aids.
• Depression: a whole range of concerns can be the consequence of social isolation due to hearing loss, many of which relate to your mental health. So it's not surprising that study after study finds depression and anxiety have extremely high comorbidity rates with hearing loss.

Is There Anything That You Can do?

When you stack all of those related health conditions on top of each other, it can look a little scary. But one thing should be kept in mind: huge positive impact can be gained by treating your hearing loss. Scientists and researchers recognize that if hearing loss is addressed, the chance of dementia significantly lowers although they don't really understand exactly why hearing loss and dementia show up together to begin with.

So no matter what your comorbid condition might be, the best course of action is to have your hearing tested.

Part of an Ecosystem

This is why health care specialists are rethinking the importance of how to treat hearing loss. Instead of being a somewhat limited and specific area of concern, your ears are thought of as closely linked to your overall wellness. We're starting to think about the body as an interconnected environment in other words. Hearing loss doesn't necessarily arise in isolation. So it's more relevant than ever that we pay attention to the entirety, not to the proverbial pond or the birds in isolation, but to your health as a whole.