8 things that harm your hearing more than loud music

Unexpected threats to your hearing that few people know




When we think of hearing loss, images of rock concerts and construction sites pop up in our heads. But the reality is far more insidious: Your hearing may be getting worse right now because of things that seem completely harmless. The experts of the Tower portal have collected eight non-obvious threats that can deprive you of one of the most important feelings.


Imagine waking up in the morning and realizing that the world is quieter. It's not dramatic, it's not sudden -- it's just a little more muted, like someone turned down the volume of life. This is how most cases of hearing loss begin in the modern world. And the perpetrators of this process are much closer than you think.

1. Common infections: when a runny nose becomes the enemy

What is the difference between a common cold and hearing loss? Turns out a lot. When you once again brush off the “light” inflammation of the throat or runny nose, your ears may already be under attack.

Inflammation provokes the accumulation of fluid behind the eardrum, creating a feeling of congestion and distortion of sounds. In severe cases, you can completely lose hearing in one ear for several days.


The mechanism is simple and insidious: the infection affects the Eustachian tubes - the thin channels connecting the middle ear with the nasopharynx. When these tubes swell, the ventilation of the middle ear is disturbed, and fluid accumulation begins. The result? Temporary and sometimes permanent hearing loss.

If the cold is prolonged, and ear pain is accompanied by hearing impairment - immediately to the doctor! The longer you wait, the higher the risk of chronic complications.


2. Head injuries: a blow that is not immediately heard



Falling from a bicycle as a child, a failed dive into the pool, a car accident – any head injury can backfire with hearing problems years later. And it's not just about serious damage.

The inner ear contains thousands of microscopic hair cells that convert sound waves into nerve impulses. These cells are so fragile that even a relatively light stroke can damage them. And the saddest thing is that they don’t recover.

Statistics that make you think
Up to 58% of people with brain injuries experience hearing problems within a year of the incident.


Especially insidious are the so-called “delayed” effects. You may feel completely normal after an injury, but after a few months or even years, notice that your hearing is worse. Therefore, any head injury should be considered as a potential threat to hearing.

3. Dental problems: a connection that few people know

There is a surprisingly close connection between teeth and ears that most people don’t even realize. Anatomically, the jaw, ears and temporomandibular joint are located in close proximity to each other.

Cavities, inflammation of the gums, problems with the wisdom tooth - all these "dental" problems can start a chain reaction of inflammatory processes, which will eventually affect the auditory system.

The infection impairs the blood supply to the inner ear, and auditory cells are extremely sensitive to lack of oxygen and nutrients. When they do not receive the necessary nutrition, their irreversible destruction begins.


Studies show that people with poor oral hygiene have a 91% higher risk of developing hearing loss compared to those who regularly visit the dentist. So a timely trip to the dentist is not only a beautiful smile, but also the preservation of hearing.

4. Diabetes: a sweet threat to the ears

If you are diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, your hearing is at increased risk. Statistics are merciless: people with disorders of carbohydrate metabolism lose hearing twice as often.

High blood glucose acts as a slow poison to the small blood vessels that feed the inner ear. Gradually, these vessels are destroyed, the blood supply to the auditory structures is disrupted, and their degradation begins.

How to protect hearing in diabetes:

• Strictly control blood sugar levels
• Increase water consumption, eliminate sugary drinks
• Engage in physical activity daily
• Check your hearing at least once a year.
• Watch your nutrition and weight.

Especially dangerous are sharp fluctuations in glucose levels. Hypoglycemia (low sugar) is no less harmful to hearing than hyperglycemia. The brain and ears need a steady supply of energy, and any roller coaster with sugar levels can cause irreparable damage.

5. High blood pressure: the silent killer of hearing

Hypertension is not for nothing called a “silent killer” – it does not make itself felt for a long time, slowly but surely destroying the body from the inside. And the auditory system is one of the first targets.



The ear is permeated with the thinnest blood vessels, which at constantly elevated pressure experience overload. The walls of the vessels thicken, the lumen narrows, the blood supply deteriorates. Hearing cells begin to “starve” and gradually die.

Figures that are shocking
People with hypertension have a 52% increased risk of hearing loss


The insidiousness of hypertension is that it is often asymptomatic. You may feel great, but your body has already started a destructive process. Therefore, regular control of blood pressure is not paranoia, but a vital necessity.

6. Dangerous drugs: when treatment becomes a threat

There is a whole group of drugs that can harm hearing. They are called ototoxic, and their list is quite impressive. The saddest thing is that many people are not even aware of this risk, taking medications strictly as prescribed by a doctor.

Ototoxic drugs include: certain antibiotics (especially aminoglycosides), chemotherapy drugs, strong diuretics, antimalarials, and high-dose aspirin.


The mechanism of action of these drugs on hearing is different, but the result is one - damage to the inner ear. Some drugs accumulate in the auditory structures, others disrupt the metabolism of cells, others affect the transmission of nerve impulses.

The first alarm bells: noise in the ears (tinnitus), a feeling of pressure in the ears, imbalance, congestion. If you notice these symptoms while taking medications, immediately inform your doctor. Sometimes it is enough to adjust the dose or replace the drug.

7. Sleep apnea: When snoring kills hearing

If your partner complains about your snoring and you often wake up feeling broken, you may have sleep apnea. This condition, in which breathing periodically stops during sleep, can seriously threaten your hearing.

Each respiratory arrest leads to a short-term decrease in blood oxygen levels. Hearing cells, as already mentioned, are extremely sensitive to hypoxia. Chronic lack of oxygen gradually leads to their death.

Studies have shown that people with sleep apnea have an almost 25% higher risk of hearing loss. The perception of high frequencies and the ability to distinguish sounds in noisy environments are particularly affected.


Fortunately, sleep apnea is treatable. Modern methods – from special mouthguards to CPAP devices – can not only improve the quality of sleep, but also protect hearing from further damage.

8. Smoking: Slow death for the ears

If you need another reason to quit smoking, here it is. Nicotine and other toxic substances in cigarettes strike the auditory system from several sides at once.

First, nicotine constricts blood vessels, impairing the blood supply to the inner ear. Secondly, smoking increases inflammatory processes in the body, which negatively affects all systems, including auditory. Third, tobacco smoke weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of ear infections.

Statistics for thought
Smokers are 1.69 times more likely to suffer hearing loss. Even passive smoking increases the risk by 28%.


Smoking is also associated with an increased risk of tinnitus, a persistent ringing or tinnitus that can severely reduce quality of life. And even if you smoke "a little" or "only on weekends", the harm still accumulates.

How to protect your hearing: practical recommendations

• Don't ignore "simple" infections - treat them in a timely manner
• For any head injury, check your hearing.
• Visit your dentist regularly and monitor your oral hygiene.
• Control sugar levels and blood pressure
• Inform your doctor about any changes in hearing when taking medication
• Contact a specialist if you suspect sleep apnea
• Give up smoking completely.
• Have audiometry at least once a year after age 50

Hearing is not just the ability to perceive sounds. This is a connection with the world, an opportunity to enjoy music, communicate with loved ones, feel safe. Hearing loss often leads to social isolation, depression, and cognitive decline.

The good news is that most risk factors can be controlled. Unlike genetic predisposition or age-related changes, infections, diabetes, hypertension, dental problems and bad habits can and should be corrected.

Remember: hearing lost due to damage to the hair cells of the inner ear is not restored. Modern medicine can offer hearing aids and cochlear implants, but it is better not to bring it to this. Prevention is always more effective and cheaper than treatment.


Glossary of terms
Ototoxicity
The ability of drugs or chemicals to damage the structures of the inner ear, leading to hearing loss or imbalance.

tinnitus
Subjective perception of sound (ringing, noise, whistling) in the ears or head in the absence of an external sound stimulus.

Eustachian trumpet
The channel connecting the middle ear to the nasopharynx and providing equalization of pressure on both sides of the eardrum.

Hair cells
Specialized sensory cells in the inner ear that convert mechanical vibrations of sound waves into electrical signals for transmission to the brain.

sleep apnea
Sleep disorder characterized by periodic respiratory arrests lasting from 10 seconds to 2-3 minutes.

Audiometry
A method of studying hearing acuity and determining auditory sensitivity to sound waves of different frequencies.

Cochlear implant
A medical device that bypasses the damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve with electrical impulses.

hypoxia
The state of oxygen starvation of tissues that occurs with insufficient oxygen supply or violation of its utilization.



The material was prepared by the experts of the Tower portal on the basis of modern scientific data and clinical studies. Take care of your hearing – you have it all your life!