Crash!
Bang! Boom!
Are we on
a construction site? No, these are just sounds of the gym … or at least some gyms. Between weight lifters
dropping heavy weights, coaches yelling words of encouragement, and loud music
cranking to keep everyone’s spirits up, gyms can be noisy places. Can working
out in them, or exercising in general, result in hearing loss?
Relationship between exercise and hearing loss
Exercise is
often seen as a way to prevent hearing
loss or maintain already healthy
hearing. This is because regular exercise can help with weight management, diabetes
prevention, and improved circulation, all factors that can have an impact on
hearing health.
4 ways exercising can lead to hearing loss
So, if
exercise is so great, how could it potentially cause hearing loss? The answer lies in the type of exercise and how
it is done. Healthy Hearing offers these factors
to consider when working out:
- Weightlifting – Holding your breath or straining while lifting
heavy weights can increase pressure inside the skull, including your ears. This
is why some weight lifters notice a full sensation in their ears during or
after lifting. Although this may not cause hearing loss immediately, repeated
episodes of increased intracranial pressure can cause damage to delicate ear
parts, especially those of the inner ear. - Dropping weights – In addition to the heavy lifting dangers
mentioned above, dropping weights can
also be of concern. Some gyms do not have carpeted or matted floors, causing
the weight drop to be very loud and intense. This can lead to a temporary case
of tinnitus or even permanent
hearing loss if continually repeated. Using padded floors in the gym is a great
way to prevent this from happening. - Loud music – Pumping energizing tunes is often a way to get
gym members more enthused about their workout. When the music is too loud,
either through speakers or individual headphones, this can lead to noise-induced hearing
loss. - Perilymphatic fistulas – This is the technical name for a small
tear between the inner and middle ear. It can result from undue strain or
pressure, sometimes caused by strenuous exercise. Due to the tear, fluid can
then pass from the inner ear into the middle ear, resulting in hearing changes
such as tinnitus or abnormal hearing sensitivity.
How to prevent exercise-induced hearing loss
Do we
recommend staying away from exercise altogether? No! The health benefits of
exercise are far too great to ignore. What we do recommend is being smart in how
you exercise. Here are a few things to keep in mind that will help protect your hearing:
- Wear hearing protection
– If
you absolutely must do your workout
in a noisy gym, wear earplugs to lessen the volume. - Exercise carefully – Don’t lift weights that
are too heavy for you, and don’t hold your breath during weight lifting or any
other exercise. - Avoid dangerous sports
– Use
your head and don’t choose to
participate in sports that are prone to head injury!
Professional hearing help is only a phone call
away
Whether
you’re looking for ways to protect your hearing, or you’ve already experienced
hearing changes and want to get a hearing test, your audiologist is a
great resource. Your hearing health is too important to ignore … schedule an appointment with a hearing
professional today and get on the road to better hearing for life!
Read the
full story here.
The post Can Exercising Cause Hearing Loss? appeared first on Hear Well – Live Well.
Source: Hear Well-Live Well Blog
