{"id":5156,"date":"2020-10-09T00:04:38","date_gmt":"2020-10-09T00:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sfaudiology.com\/?p=5156"},"modified":"2020-10-09T00:04:38","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T00:04:38","slug":"can-stress-lead-to-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sfaudiology.com\/can-stress-lead-to-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Stress Lead to Hearing Loss?"},"content":{"rendered":"

These past few months have brought about unprecedented levels of stress for millions of Americans. Figuring out the right coping mechanism is crucial, as long-term stress can lead to a variety of health problems, including hearing loss.<\/p>\n

How Stress Affects Hearing<\/h2>\n

\"Man<\/h2>\n

Everyone experiences stress. Typically, after a stressful\u00a0situation, your body sends out a signal that it is safe to return to normal. With long-term stress, this signal is never sent, and your body remains in a heightened state. This can lead to serious health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure<\/a> and diabetes. These conditions can restrict blood flow throughout the body.<\/p>\n

The hair cells within your inner ear that are responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical impulses, which are then sent on to your brain to be interpreted as sound, require good circulation to keep working<\/a>. When deprived of enough blood, the hair cells can become damaged or die. This leads to permanent sensorineural hearing loss.<\/p>\n

In addition to hearing loss, poor circulation can also cause tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus, a less common type of tinnitus, is characterized by a rhythmic ear noise that pulses in time with your heartbeat. High blood pressure is a common cause of this condition, which can occur as a result of long-term stress.<\/p>\n

Stress can also lead to a tinnitus flareup, making it harder for you to follow through with your normal habituation or management techniques.<\/p>\n

Coping with Stress<\/h2>\n

The best way to prevent hearing loss<\/a> and tinnitus caused by stress is to work at reducing the amount of stress in your life. Below are some tips for reducing stress according to the American Psychological Association<\/a>:<\/p>\n