{"id":3049,"date":"2022-02-24T18:10:02","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T23:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hamptonroadsent.com\/?p=3049"},"modified":"2022-02-24T18:10:04","modified_gmt":"2022-02-24T23:10:04","slug":"anemia-hearing-health-is-there-a-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hamptonroadsent.com\/anemia-hearing-health-is-there-a-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"Anemia & Hearing Health: Is There a Connection?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hearing loss has been linked to a number of health conditions, including anxiety, depression, balance problems, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia. A growing body of evidence indicates that hearing loss<\/a> may be connected to iron-deficiency anemia as well. We explore this link below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the Research Shows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Close<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Researchers at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine<\/a> analyzed the medical records of 305,339 adults ages 21 to 90. They found that those with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) were twice as likely to have hearing loss than those without the blood disorder. While this study doesn\u2019t prove that IDA causes hearing loss, it does indicate a relationship between the two conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The authors note that, \u201cAn association exists between IDA and hearing loss\u2026 The next steps are to better understand this correlation and whether promptly diagnosing and treating IDA may positively affect the overall health status of adults with hearing loss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This study is supported by an older study<\/a>, which found that people who consume iron-rich diets have better high-frequency hearing than those who don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why the Link?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Inside the inner ears are tiny hair cells called stereocilia. These cells convert soundwaves into electrical energy that the brain interprets as sound. The stereocilia rely on a healthy supply of oxygen from the blood in order to function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iron helps blood cells carry oxygen. If you have an iron deficiency, your cells can\u2019t deliver the oxygen to the inner ears properly, and the stereocilia are deprived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Is Most Likely to Develop IDA?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While anyone can develop IDA, those who are most prone include women during childbearing years, especially during menstruation and pregnancy. In older adults, blood loss is a common cause of IDA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can IDA Be Prevented?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For most people, eating an iron-rich diet can prevent IDA. This means eating foods such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n