Smoking could increase the chances of becoming deaf

Published on June 11th, 2008 04:47

Experts found a link between how much somebody smokes and for how long, and their chances of suffering deafness.

Scientists found that smoking and obesity could both cause permanent hearing damage. International research suggests that every extra pound or cigarette could increase the chances of becoming deaf. Smoking is detrimental because it damages blood flow to the ear.

Dr Erik Fransen said: "Blood flow is absolutely crucial for good functioning of the inner ear. Anything that disrupts the blood circulation will affect the hearing, that's the hypothesis."

However, the Antwerp University-led study found that high levels of work noise remained the biggest risk of deafness.

A link between smoking and hearing problems has been suggested by others, but the conclusions of the latest research, involving more than 4,000 men and women aged between 53 and 67, offer the most convincing evidence to date.

All the study participants were given a hearing test, and then asked about their lifestyle and where they worked.

Dr Erik Fransen, of the University of Antwerp in Belgium, said that the ability to pick out high frequency sounds was damaged in smokers and the obese, although to not as great an extent as those exposed to very loud noise in the workplace.

Dr Fransen reported: "The hearing loss is proportional to how much you smoke and your body mass index (BMI). Because smoking cuts down the blood circulation and also causes a build up of toxic waste which is harmful to the ear. A higher BMI also slows down circulation of the blood."

Another study also suggests that middle-aged smokers have worse memories than those who have never touched a cigarette.

Hearing loss has always been considered an inevitable part of ageing, but more and more studies and also this study indicate that this is not necessarily true. Apparently, a healthy lifestyle can be beneficial for hearing conservation at higher ages also.