How Smoking & Drinking May Affect Hearing

Medical professionals have been warning us that smoking is bad for our health for years. There is a reason people have been struggling with smoking and excessive drinking – it can make us feel elated at times – but over years of use, these highly addictive substances can be used to self-medicate for depression and anxiety. On the other side of chemical dependence on smoking and drinking is addressing your health. The extent of damage that these habits cause to your health continues to reveal itself as worse than we may have previously suspected. Excessive alcohol use can put you at risk for heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as damage your liver and pancreas. Meanwhile, smoking has been linked to cancer and lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. On top of all these health risks, there is expanding evidence linking smoking and drinking with damage to your hearing ability.

Smokers More Likely to Have Hearing Loss

It is estimated that 40 million U.S. adults are addicted to cigarettes and that puts not only their hearing at risk but those who are around them. Studies have found that when compared to nonsmokers, smokers have a 70% greater chance of developing hearing loss and the more one smokes, the higher the risk. For those who live with a smoker, secondhand smoke doubles the risk of hearing loss.

How Smoking Leads to Hearing Loss

While we hear with our ears, it is our brain that processes the sounds our ears collect. Sound travels from our ears via tiny hair-like cells called stereocilia, which are incredibly fragile. Several things can damage the stereocilia, including exposure to loud noise, old age, impact to the head, infection, and certain chemicals, classified as ototoxic. Nicotine, which is the addictive element in tobacco, is an ototoxic chemical. Nicotine damages the stereocilia by restricting blood flow and starving the cells of your inner ear of oxygen. The amount you smoke determines how much restriction occurs which affects the extent of hearing loss. Studies have found that the use of tobacco can also increase the extent of damage the ears sustain when exposed to excessive noise. This is suspected to be caused due to a lack of blood and oxygen support when your ears are exposed to sounds that exceed safe listening levels.

Drinking and Hearing Loss

An alcoholic beverage now and then is not a bad thing. Many doctors recommend a glass of red wine for heart health and blood circulation now and then, but the issue is for many, alcohol is an addictive substance that can easily start as a mild habit that progresses. It has also been found that excessive alcohol consumption can put your hearing at risk. Research from the University of Ulm in Germany tested drinkers, ranging from heavy to social use, and found that alcohol consumption can damage the central auditory cortex in the brain. This is the region of the brain responsible for interpreting the sounds sent from the ears, via stereocilia. The study found that even for moderate drinkers, these cells were at risk for permanent damage due to regular alcohol use. The study determined that like smoking – the more you drink the more of a severe effect your hearing can suffer.

The Dangers of Hearing Health

The important takeaway from these findings is that you can take control of your hearing health by addressing these toxic habits. There are several even more severe side effects to your health to consider, but hearing health is not one to take lightly. When you suffer from hearing loss it often comes on subtly, so you may not notice until it has progressed to an extreme level. Over the years this subtle break in communication has begun to affect your relationships at home and work. Relationships become strained due to communication issues and it’s common for people to become chronically depressed, anxious, and lonely. It has also been found to lead to cognitive impairment, leading to a higher risk of dementia later in life.

Protecting Your Hearing Health

The best way to stop the effects of tobacco and alcohol on your hearing is to cut back or quit together. Because of the addictive nature of these substances, abstaining is often the best choice for your total health, including your hearing. If you suspect you do have hearing loss it can be treated. Contact us now to find out what we can do to support your hearing.