Five Ways to Improve Your Hearing #healthy2020 #hearingloss #betterhearing

Nearly 50 million Americans -- including me -- are impacted by hearing loss. After years of putting it off, I was fitted for hearing aids last November. The results have been life-changing for me -- I didn't know the sounds I was missing until I actually began to hear them! In my continuing #Healthy2020 series, The Weekend Gourmet correspondent is sharing five ways you can improve your hearing. This article may contain affiliate links.

Hearing loss is more common than most people think. With more than 48 million Americans affected by at least one form of hearing condition during their lifetime, a lot more attention should be given to this area of our health. Fortunately, for those experiencing hearing loss, there are definitely ways to improve their condition. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the ideas.
See a Hearing Specialist

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Our health is the one thing we shouldn't take for granted. When it comes to our hearing, we should't take unnecessary risks. When you feel you're having ear or hearing problems, the first thing you need to do is to see a specialist. Depending on the type of hearing issues you're experiencing, there are two main kinds of medical specialists: (1) audiologists and (2) Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Doctors. Take time to learn more about the differences between these two types of specialists to determine which is right for you.
Exercise

Regular exercise plays a huge role in improving hearing health. It's especially beneficial for adults, as lesser amounts of physical activities are associated with a higher risk of hearing issues. Exercising improves blood flow to the ears and supports hair cells in the inner section of the ear. These hair cells send and receive sound in the form of electric impulses to the auditory part of the brain for translation. Any damage to these hair cells can lead to permanent hearing loss.
Use Hearing Aids

After you've been diagnosed with hearing loss by a specialist, chances are you'll be prescribed hearing aids. Hearing aids are designed to help improve hearing quality by providing the necessary amplification needed by your ears to receive and send sound waves for processing by the auditory section of the brain. Modern hearing aids are small and discrete...and designed to be comfortable and for any age group.
Turn Down the Volume

As much as high volume allows us to enjoy music, it also comes with serious problems for our hearing. High volume is one of the fastest ways to permanently damage your hearing. Hearing loss caused by noise is responsible for different kinds of hearing issues. To be safe, avoid sounds louder than 85 decibels -- think the sound of heavy traffic or a noisy restaurant. Otherwise, use hearing protection like ear plugs whenever you're exposed to a very high volume of sound. Simple measures like turning down the volume of the television or radio can go a long way toward protecting your hearing.

Don't Smoke!

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Habitual smoking has been linked to many different health issues -- including hearing problems. Chronic smokers are nearly 70% more likely to have hearing problems and/or irreversible hearing damage. This is because of the nicotine and carbon monoxide content of cigarettes. Cigarettes cause blood vessels to become tight, severing the oxygen supply to the inner part of the ear -- which keeps the hair cells discussed above alive. The risk of permanent hearing loss gives you even more incentive to stay away from smoking.