Your body is similar to an ecosystem. In nature, if something happens to the pond, all of the birds and fish are impacted as well; and when the birds disappear so too do all of the animals and plants that depend on those birds. The human body, commonly unbeknownst to us, functions on very comparable principles of interconnectedness. That’s the reason why a wide variety of afflictions can be connected to something which at first seems so isolated like hearing loss.
This is, in a way, proof of the interdependence of your body and it’s similarity to an ecosystem. When something affects your hearing, it might also influence your brain. We call these circumstances comorbid, a name that is specialized and indicates when two ailments 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 disorders that are comorbid with hearing loss.
Diseases Associated With Hearing Loss
So, let’s suppose that you’ve been recognizing the symptoms of hearing loss for the last couple of months. It’s been challenging to follow discussions in restaurants. You’ve been cranking up the volume on your television. And certain sounds seem so distant. At this point, most people will make an appointment with a hearing professional (this is the practical thing to do, actually).
Whether you’re aware of it or not, your hearing loss is linked to numerous other health issues. Comorbidity with hearing loss has been documented with the following health conditions.
- Dementia: a higher chance of dementia has been linked to hearing loss, although the underlying cause of that relationship is unclear. Many of these incidents of dementia and also cognitive decline can be reduced, according to research, by wearing hearing aids.
- Cardiovascular disease: hearing loss and cardiovascular conditions are not necessarily connected. But sometimes 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. As that trauma escalates, your hearing could suffer as a result.
- Vertigo and falls: your primary tool for balance is your inner ear. There are some types of hearing loss that can wreak havoc with your inner ear, leading to dizziness and vertigo. Any loss of balance can, naturally, cause falls, and as you get older, falls can become increasingly hazardous.
- Diabetes: additionally, your overall nervous system can be negatively influenced by diabetes (specifically in your extremities). one of the areas especially likely to be affected are the nerves in the ear. This damage can cause loss of hearing all on its own. But diabetes-related nerve damage can also make you more susceptible to hearing loss caused by other factors, often compounding your symptoms.
- Depression: a whole range of issues can be the result of social isolation because of hearing loss, many of which are related to your mental health. So it’s no surprise that study after study confirms depression and anxiety have extremely high comorbidity rates with hearing loss.
Is There Anything That You Can do?
When you add all of those connected health conditions on top of each other, it can seem a little intimidating. But it’s worthwhile to remember one thing: tremendous positive affect can be gained by managing your hearing loss. Researchers and scientists know that if hearing loss is addressed, the risk of dementia significantly lowers even though they don’t really understand exactly why hearing loss and dementia show up together in the first place.
So the best course of action, no matter what comorbid condition you may be concerned about, is to get your hearing checked.
Part of an Ecosystem
This is why health care specialists are reconsidering the importance of how to manage hearing loss. Your ears are being regarded as a part of your total health profile instead of being a specific and limited concern. In other words, we’re starting to perceive the body more like an interconnected ecosystem. Hearing loss isn’t always an isolated situation. So it’s more important than ever that we address the totality, not to the proverbial pond or the birds in isolation, but to your health as a whole.
