You’ve most likely already recognized that your hearing is waning. Hearing loss typically progresses as a result of decisions you make without recognizing they’re impacting your hearing.

With a few basic lifestyle changes, many kinds of hearing loss can be prevented. Let’s look at six unexpected secrets that will help you protect your hearing.

1. Regulate Your Blood Pressure

Consistently high blood pressure is not okay. A study revealed that people with above-average blood pressure are 52% more likely to develop hearing loss, not to mention other health concerns.

Take actions to lower your blood pressure and avoid hearing damage. Don’t dismiss high blood pressure or wait to see a doctor. Following your doctor’s orders, managing stress, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise are all parts of blood pressure management.

2. Stop Smoking

Here’s one more reason to quit: People who smoke are 15% more likely to suffer from hearing loss. What’s even more alarming is that there’s a 28% higher chance of someone developing hearing issues if they are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke. The harmful consequences of second-hand smoke are not only harmful, they also hang in the air for long periods.

If you smoke, protect your hearing and think about quitting. Take actions to minimize your exposure to second-hand smoke if you spend time around a smoker.

3. Regulate Your Diabetes

One in four adults is either pre-diabetic or diabetic. Unless they make some significant lifestyle changes, somebody who is pre-diabetic will very likely develop diabetes within 5 years.

High blood sugar damages blood vessels, which makes it very difficult for them to effectively transport nutrients. A diabetic person is more than two times as likely to cope with hearing loss compared to a non-diabetic individual.

If you suffer from diabetes, protect your hearing by taking the proper steps to manage it. If you are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes, protect your hearing by making lifestyle changes to avoid it.

4. Lose Some Weight

This is more about your health than feeling good about how you look. Hearing loss and other health problems rise as your Body Mass Index (BMI) rises. A mildly obese woman (with a 30 to 34 BMI) has a 17% increased chance of developing hearing loss. For someone with a BMI of 40 (moderate obesity), the risk goes up to 25%.

Take measures to shed that excess weight. Your life can be prolonged and your hearing can be safeguarded by something as simple as walking for 30 minutes each day.

5. Don’t Overuse OTC Medications

Some over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can lead to hearing impairment. The more frequently these drugs are taken over a long period of time, the greater the risk.

Medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin are known to cause hearing loss. Take these medicines in moderation and only with your doctor’s guidance if you need to take them more regularly.

Studies reveal that you’ll most likely be fine if you’re taking these medications periodically in the recommended doses. The danger of hearing loss goes up to 40% for men, however, when these drugs are taken on a daily basis.

Your doctor’s advice should always be followed. Your doctor might be able to recommend some lifestyle changes that will lessen your dependence on these medications if you are using them every day.

6. Eat More Broccoli

Broccoli is packed with iron as well as essential nutrients including vitamins C and K. Iron is vital to blood circulation and a healthy heart. Iron helps your blood transport oxygen and nutrients to cells to keep them healthy and nourished.

If you’re a vegetarian or don’t eat much meat, it’s important that you consume enough plant-based iron. The iron found in plants is not as bioavailable as the iron in meat so people in this group are more likely to be deficient in iron.

More than 300,000 individuals were examined by Pennsylvania State University. Individuals who have anemia (severe iron deficiency) are twice as likely, according to this research, to experience sensorineural hearing loss than individuals who have typical iron concentrations. Age-related irreversible hearing loss is what the technical term “sensorineural hearing loss” refers to.

The inner ear has tiny hair cells that pick up sounds and interact with the brain to transmit the volume and frequency of those sounds. If poor circulation or an iron deficiency causes these little hairs to die they will be gone forever.

Don’t wait to get a hearing test because you’re never too young. Reduce hearing loss by using these simple tips in your day-to-day life.