A miracle cure that can help extend your lifespan is something pretty much everybody would want. As a matter of fact, a quick internet search will probably return thousands of such miracle remedies (if not more), each promising to help you have a longer life thanks to one simple trick. The vast majority of these so-called cures have no medical basis and are not backed by the healthcare community.
But there are some legit things you can do to help you get a longer lifespan. For instance, eating a healthy diet (specifically one low in sodium and saturated fats) or quitting smoking can dramatically affect your expected lifespan.
The same is true of managing hearing loss by wearing hearing aids. That’s according to recent research published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, a multidisciplinary journal devoted to healthy aging. So, will using hearing aids to manage hearing loss help increase longevity? According to this study, it’s a distinct possibility.
Is hearing loss a health threat?
The relationship between your hearing health and your general wellness is not necessarily new to researchers. For instance, it has been well demonstrated that neglected hearing loss can considerably increase your risk of cognitive decline later in life.
These risks, however, are generally unknown by most individuals. They consider hearing loss to be an isolated inconvenience, something that only influences one very particular part of their life. But when left untreated, hearing loss can pose greater health concerns than a simple inconvenience.
Is there a connection between hearing aids and lifespan?
In the majority of instances, treatment for hearing loss means wearing hearing aids as much as possible. So does this mean that you can reduce your risk of early death by wearing hearing aids? There is a definite possibility, according to this latest study, that hearing aids can decrease your risk of early death. There is a 24% reduction in mortality risk for individuals with hearing loss who regularly use hearing aids, as reported by this study. The participants in this study, in other words, who wore their hearing aids, tended to live longer.
The advantages of hearing aids
Though The Lancet Healthy Longevity study strongly suggests a relationship between hearing health and longevity, it doesn’t absolutely prove that wearing hearing aids will help you live longer. However, it’s another piece of information to add onto what we already know about the benefits of hearing aids.
- It will be easier to function in social situations. This can reduce the amount of social separation you feel, increasing your overall mental health.
- You can prevent accidents and injuries by being more conscious of your environment.
- Hearing aids can help you enjoy everyday moments with friends and family, from going out to eat with colleagues to asking your grandchildren about their school day.
- Wearing your hearing aids can help improve cognition. Over time, your brain will be healthier and less tired from straining to hear.
Whenever you use your hearing aids, you will experience these improvements to your life. These are all great reasons to use hearing aids to manage your hearing loss.
Your overall health and well-being depend heavily on healthy hearing
Scientists have recognized that the health of your hearing plays a significant role in your total wellness. Your risk of early mortality can be reduced by managing any hearing loss you may have with hearing aids.
Seeing a hearing specialist can help you identify whether you have hearing loss and the best way to treat it.
