We know that keeping active and exercising, in general, is good for our overall health – but did you know that there are benefits directly linked to hearing? Even if life is busy or the weather isn’t on your side, making sure that you move your body regularly is a must. Staying active is great for the whole body. Making sure that you take part in regular physical activities and exercises has a significant impact if you have hearing loss.
Are There Challenges When It Comes to Having Hearing Loss and Keeping Active?
People who have undiagnosed hearing loss may be more tempted to isolate themselves away and become less active. These two things will impact each other greatly. If you feel that you or a loved one has hearing loss, then it is a good idea to get a hearing check immediately. Talk to your hearing instrument specialist about you hearing loss and what treatment will be the best for you.
Quality of Life
Regular exercise and outdoor activities such as walking, cycling or swimming can significantly enhance your overall quality of life, especially if you have hearing loss. People with hearing loss may feel isolated and tend to withdraw from social activities, but participating in group activities can help prevent this. In addition, committing to a regular exercise routine can lead to improved physical health. By incorporating outdoor activities into your routine, you not only improve your physical well-being but also enjoy the benefits of being outside, such as fresh air and sunshine, which can have positive effects on your mental health.
Anxiety
It is highly common for people with hearing loss to have depression and anxiety. It stems from the uncertainty of whether they have heard something correctly or if someone has heard them correctly. It leaves space for an amount of uncertainty and stress, which translates to anxiety. Exercise reduces stress levels, which can help with anxiety too. Being in a class can help to overcome the anxiety that may come with hearing loss.
Cardiovascular Health
There is a strong link between cardiovascular health and hearing. The ear has its blood supply delivered from many small arteries and requires a regular and rich blood flow to be maintained. When the blood flow is restricted or reduced due to heart disease or heart issues, this can damage parts of the ear.
Regular activity can keep the heart pumping and healthy, which will, in turn, maintain a good blood flow to the auditory system. This can help to support the hearing or ear function that a person does have.
Balance and Coordination
People with hearing loss will often also experience reduced coordination and some difficulties with balance. The inner ear is made up of two parts the vestibular for balance and the cochlea for hearing.
In some hearing loss cases, the inner ear can be impacted and cause a balance disorder. Although sometimes there is hearing loss and balance loss, the two are separate. When it comes to balance, exercise can help to keep your core strong and stable, which will help with both coordination and balance.
Cognitive Decline
When it comes to hearing loss, one of the risks when it is undiagnosed is a decline in cognition. When a person has hearing loss, they are more likely to withdraw from society and the lack of interaction combined with the brain working hard to fill in the gaps in hearing can lead to cognitive decline. Exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on cognition. Not only does it keep the brain active and promote healthy blood flow, but human engagement is also vital.
Socializing
People with hearing loss will often decide not to take part in social activities. Without a hearing aid in place, work meetings can become more challenging and social gatherings with a lot of different sounds mean it can be tricky to isolate talking with people from the background. With exercise and being active comes a level of confidence, and that can be translated into being able to socialize with a bit more confidence. With more socialization and being in classes or groups to be active, people with hearing loss also become more confident in asking for accommodations and what they need.
Keeping active by taking part in classes, joining walking groups or for those who are more able weights and more rigorous workouts is essential for people who have hearing loss. It supports the whole body, including brain function and cardiovascular health too.
If you want to get the best out of your physical activities and exercise and are experiencing hearing loss call Galco Hearing Aid Service at (281) 245-0520 to talk about what you need.
