Everybody experiences stress sometimes. It’s just part of life. We might feel stress from family, friendships, school, work, or extracurricular activities. Most people realize that it can lead some to have trouble sleeping, headaches, or an upset stomach. What they don’t realize is that it can also impact your hearing. Here, we’ll explore what stress is and how it can affect your hearing.
What Is Stress?
Stress is a natural process the body uses when processing danger or pressure situations. Your body produces adrenaline and cortisol when stressed, which help you respond to the challenges. You’ll recognize your heartbeat speeds up, increasing your situational awareness, and raising your blood pressure.
Known as the ‘fight or flight’ response, it is helpful in short bursts but not over long periods of time. It can create problems for your physical and mental health.
How Stress Affects the Body
Most people find it hard to believe, but stress can affect almost every part of your body. The most common symptoms are listed below:
- Headaches
- Muscle tension
- Stomach aches
- Trouble sleeping
- Fast heartbeat
- High blood pressure
When this occurs over a long period of time, it’s known as chronic stress and can lead to serious health problems, even to your hearing.
How Stress Affects Hearing
While there are many ways stress can impact your hearing, the most common are listed below:
- Tinnitus
- Sudden hearing loss
- Sound sensitivity
- Muscle tension
Tinnitus
This is the medical term for ringing in your ears. Those with this diagnosis will hear a buzzing, ringing, or humming sound even when there isn’t any noise. Stress is the most common trigger because when stressed, the body increases activity in the hearing system, which can cause tinnitus.
Sudden Hearing Loss
Though rare, extreme stress can cause sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Doctors surmise this is due to a reduction in blood flow to the inner ear during stressful situations.
Increased Sensitivity to Sound
Often, people under stress can find noises to be too loud or irritating. This is known as hyperacusis. Stress can make the brain overreact to sounds, making them seem louder than they are.
Tight Muscles and Jaw Clenching
Stress can cause us to clench our jaws and tighten our shoulder and neck muscles. This puts stress on the tiny bones and muscles around your ears, which can lead to ear pain or affect your hearing.
What You Can Do About It
While stress might impact your overall health, the good news is that there are ways to reduce stress. Below are listed the most common ways to reduce stress:
- Relaxation techniques
- Regular exercise
- Sleep
- Talk with someone you trust
- Protect your hearing
Practice Relaxation Techniques
Using meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises can help calm your mind and body. Even after just a few minutes can help to minimize your stress levels.
Exercise Regularly
When we exercise, our body releases endorphins, which are ‘feel-good’ chemicals. Biking, walking, or playing sports are all good ways to release endorphins and lower your stress.
Get Enough Sleep
While we all know sleep is important, it is even more so when managing stress. Getting restful sleep (6-8 hours) each night is important for your health.
Talk to Someone
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talking to a friend, parent, teacher, or counselor can make a big difference.
Protect Your Ears
Make sure to keep the volume down to protect your ears. This will help to lower your stress, too.
Seeing a Doctor
If you notice changes in your hearing or ear discomfort that won’t go away, it’s time to see a doctor or hearing specialist. Even if stress is the cause, a professional can help you find safe and effective ways to feel better and protect your hearing.
Conclusion
Stress is a normal part of life, but when it goes unchecked, it can affect more than just your mood—it can also affect your hearing. By learning how to manage stress in healthy ways and paying attention to changes in your ears, you can protect your hearing now and in the future.
Take care of your ears, your mind, and your body; they all work together to keep you healthy and strong.