Smokers may be more likely to develop hearing loss than nonsmokers, and the risk increases with each additional cigarette people smoke on a typical day, a Japanese study suggests.
Researchers examined data on almost 50,000 Japanese workers, ages 20 to 64, who didn’t have hearing loss. After a maximum follow-up of eight years, more than 5,100 people developed hearing loss.
Compared to nonsmokers, people who currently smoked were 60 percent more likely to develop high-frequency hearing loss which in turn makes it hard to understand speech in noisy environments.
“The more one smokes, the higher the risk of hearing loss,” said lead study author Huanhuan Hu of the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Tokyo.
It is noted that current smokers were also more likely to be overweight, have chronic health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes, and work in jobs with higher levels of occupational noise.
These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that smoking can contribute to hearing loss. The importance of leading a healthier lifestyle is not only good for your overall health, but good for your hearing as well.
If you a smoker, previous smoker or are exposed to second hand smoke, call us today for a baseline hearing test. Our Doctors of Audiology will review your history, asses your hearing and provide a personalized plan for a healthier you!
SOURCE: bit.ly/2pdBqyo Nicotine and Tobacco Research, online March 14, 2018.
