Many people lose their hearing as they age. However, there are things you can do to delay this age-related hearing impairment for as long as possible; here are some of these things:

You Should Be Physically Active

There is evidence that reduced levels of physical activity accelerate the onset of hearing loss. This means that becoming physically active is a good way of delaying the onset of your age-related hearing loss for as long as possible. The exact reason for the link has not been definitively established, but there is speculation that physical exercise helps to boost blood circulation, as well as the elimination of toxins, which helps to keep the cells of the ears healthy and active.

Don't Smoke Cigarettes

There is also evidence that regular smoking may cause hearing impairment. In fact, as a smoker, you are approximately 15% more likely to develop hearing loss than nonsmokers. (Some studies put the percentage even higher – at 70%). The extent of the risk depends on different factors such as how many cigarettes you smoke per day as well as how long you have been smoking. This means that if you are a regular smoker, your hearing is likely to have been damaged by the time you get to old age. Again, the exact reason smoking causes hearing loss is not known, but it may not be too farfetched to speculate that the toxins in cigarettes damage the nerves and cells responsible for hearing. Quitting smoking will go a long way in reducing the risk.

Reduce Your Exposure to Noise

Noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss that most people know about. However, many people assume that it's only extremely loud noises that can cause hearing loss and that the damage is instantaneous. The truth is that moderately loud noises are also bad as far as your hearing is concerned. If you are exposed to moderately loud noises all your life, then you are likely to develop hearing impairment in old age. Therefore, protect your ears from loud noises if you want to maintain your good hearing into old age.

Be Careful with the Medicines You Take

Lastly, there are also medications that have hearing damage as one of their possible side effects. If you have a health condition that requires you to take such medications on a regular basis over a long period, then they may affect your hearing in old age. The best way to deal with this risk is to avoid self-medication and know all the effects of the medicines you are taking; in some cases, your doctor may prescribe alternative medicine if you tell them about your hearing-related concerns.

All isn't lost, however, if you have already developed hearing impairment. Consult a hearing doctor for a hearing test.

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