Hot Ears High Blood Pressure: Are They Linked?

Hot Ears High Blood Pressure: Did you realize that high blood pressure can increase your risk of developing age-related hearing loss? So how does hypertension usher in hearing loss? We shall see!

Your ears are among the many body components that are impacted by hypertension. Issues including dizziness, hearing loss, and tinnitus can result from variations in blood pressure and flow.

You may start to notice that your hearing is deteriorating around the age of 40. Even though hearing loss is irreversible, you probably won’t even notice it as it progresses.

It usually results from years of damage caused by noise. High blood pressure can harm the blood vessels inside your ears as well as your blood vessels overall.

Although some ear damage may be irreversible, lowering blood pressure may help treat hypertension-related ear disorders.

Early identification can help lower the risk of long-term hearing problems by bringing blood pressure under control as soon as feasible.

Blood Pressure and Why It’s So Significant

There are several speeds at which blood can flow through your circulatory system. This blood flows more quickly than usual when blood pressure is high. Over time, this might cause damage to your blood vessels.

These injured blood arteries become less flexible and frequently obstructed. These obstructions can lead to cardiovascular issues, such as a stroke. This is one of the reasons why medical professionals frequently monitor your blood pressure closely.

What Constitutes High Blood Pressure?

The following are included in the basic blood pressure ratings:

• Typical: 120/8o
• Hypertension in Stage 1: 130–139/80–89
• Hypertension in Stage 2: 140 or greater or 90 or greater

An elevated blood pressure of 180/120 is regarded as a hypertensive emergency. This kind of incident needs to be handled right away.

How Can Hypertension Cause Hearing Loss?

Your blood vessels, especially the blood arteries in your ears, can sustain significant damage from hypertension. Along with these blood vessels, your ear’s nerves will typically also be affected.

Additionally, your ear’s stereocilia, which are microscopic hairs that detect vibrations, may suffer from high blood pressure. Since these stereocilia cannot regenerate themselves, any harm they sustain cannot be undone.

This implies that any kind of ear trauma has the potential to result in irreversible hearing loss. Certain studies have found that a higher proportion of people with hearing loss have elevated blood pressure.

People with more severe hearing loss were also more likely to have greater blood pressure. In other words, controlling blood pressure can lessen the effects of hearing loss.

What Does High Blood Pressure Feel Like in Your Ears?

High blood pressure symptoms are typically hardly noticeable. High blood pressure is not indicated by so-called “hot ears.” A condition known as “hot ears” causes your ears to feel hot and turn red.

It typically indicates alterations in blood flow related to hormones, emotions, and other issues unrelated to blood pressure.

The symptoms of tinnitus can occasionally be made worse by high blood pressure. However, how can you determine whether tinnitus is caused by hypertension?

Speaking with your physician is the only surefire method to find out. Tinnitus isn’t typically an indication of high blood pressure, though. For good reason, high blood pressure is commonly referred to as “the silent killer.”

Most people discover they have high blood pressure when their vitals are measured during an annual physical. It’s a valid excuse to make sure you don’t skip your scheduled appointments.

How Can You Lower Your Blood Pressure?

Usually, a number of distinct causes combine to cause high blood pressure. As a result, you might need to employ a number of different techniques and actions in order to effectively reduce your blood pressure.

Generally speaking, lowering your blood pressure should be a collaborative effort with your primary care physician. This kind of management could resemble the following:

• Take your medication: Sometimes, high blood pressure cannot be prevented or adequately managed by diet and exercise alone. In some cases, medication may be necessary to help you manage your hypertension, even if lifestyle modifications have been beneficial.
• Increase your physical activity: Getting regular exercise, or just moving around frequently, will help lower your blood pressure levels.
• Steer clear of sodium: Limit your intake of salt. When feasible, look for lower-salinity substitutes (or stay away from processed meals).
• Modifications to your diet: Consuming a Mediterranean diet can help reduce blood pressure. Avoid foods like red meat and eat more fruits and vegetables.

To manage your blood pressure, you and your physician will create a treatment plan. Is it possible to reverse hearing loss caused by hypertension?

The answer is yes in some situations and no in others. Reduced blood pressure may help restore hearing, at least partially, according to some studies. However, it’s likely that some of the harm will be irreparable.

Treating your blood pressure as soon as possible will increase the likelihood that your hearing will recover.

How To Protect Your Hearing?

There are other ways to protect your hearing, even while lowering your blood pressure can undoubtedly benefit your health and hearing. This might consist of:

• Steer clear of noisy activities and venues: Because loud noises can be harmful, they should be avoided. If you can’t completely avoid these conditions, spend as little time as possible in noisy places.
• Wear hearing protection: Put on earplugs, ear earmuffs, or even noise-canceling headphones to assist preserve your hearing.
• Consult your physician: Regularly getting your hearing checked can help you protect your hearing and identify any hearing loss early on.

The Bottom Line

Hot ears are unlikely to be directly caused by high blood pressure, but it’s still vital to take into account other potential causes. Stress and worry, environmental factors, infections, and specific medical disorders or drugs are common reasons.

It’s wise to seek a medical professional’s opinion for a comprehensive assessment if you have ongoing symptoms or are worried about your blood pressure.