Julie Raney is a certified and licensed audiologist. She has a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Master’s Degree in Audiology from Idaho State University. She has worked as a clinical audiologist in Colorado since 2005. She specializes in hearing amplification for adults and delivers her services in both English and Sign Language.

Cigarettes and Your Ears

Smoking can have a huge impact on your overall health and welling. Smoking cigarettes can increase your risk of high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, bronchitis, and even problems with the immune system. But you might be surprised to learn that smoking can also increase your risk of hearing loss. In fact, if you smoke every day, you’re 60% more likely to develop hearing loss when compared to people who don’t smoke. Secondhand smoke can also increase your risk of hearing loss.

The nicotine and tobacco in cigarettes can damage your overall health. Smoking lowers your blood oxygen levels, so your blood isn’t carrying as much oxygen to cells in your body. More oxygen will get delivered to your brain and your vital organs, and less oxygen will reach your extremities or your ears. If you’re a smoker, you could be damaging your ears through oxygen deprivation. When these cells don’t get the oxygen they need, they can be damaged or even die. This causes hearing loss.

Finally, smoking is also linked to a higher risk of ear infections. Cigarette smoke can irritate the lining at the back of your throat, or cause inflammation of the Eustachian tubes that connect the middle ear to the back of the throat. When the Eustachian tube is blocked by inflammation, you’re more likely to have ear infections in the middle ear, which can lead to hearing loss.

Blood Pressure and Your Ears

Did you know that 45% of American adults have high blood pressure? When your blood pressure is high, it puts a lot more pressure on your arteries. Your heart also has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body. High blood pressure increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke. It can also damage your hearing.

The added pressure in your ears can damage the delicate cells in the inner ear, leading to hearing loss.

Quitting Smoking to Support Healthy Hearing

When you quit smoking, your body starts to recover quickly. Just a few hours after your last cigarette, your blood pressure can start to stabilize. Your blood oxygen levels will also start to improve within the first hour. After a few hours, your blood oxygen levels will be nearly normal. A few days after your last cigarette your sense of taste and smell returns, and you’ll start to have more energy.

Making this one change impacts your entire body. You can prevent further damage to your hearing, and stop increasing your risk of heart disease and cancer. Quitting smoking can help you maintain healthy hearing.

Lowering Blood Pressure to Support Healthy Hearing

If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about ways you can lower your blood pressure. Some of the most effective ways to lower blood pressure include:

Exercising regularly and staying physically active
Eating a healthy diet and avoiding processed sugar
Lowering your salt intake
Reducing your overall stress with lifestyle changes

It’s easy to monitor your blood pressure at home and keep track of your numbers. You can get a blood pressure monitor without a prescription. Your doctor can teach you how to use a monitor, and what to watch out for. If you notice any concerning changes to your blood pressure, talk to your doctor right away.

Treating Hearing Loss

If you have hearing loss, we recommend treating your hearing loss as soon as possible. Along with quitting smoking and lowering your blood pressure, treating hearing loss is a great way to support healthy hearing.

With hearing aids, you’ll easily hear all the sounds around you. You can leave the TV at a safe listening volume, and hear without straining to hear. Hearing clearly is important for your overall health and wellbeing. Hearing aids will help you connect with your loved ones and enjoy all the little things in life.