Want to keep your hearing in good shape? A recent study found that taking care of your gut might help!
Researchers looked at studies from 1995 to 2021 that talked about how the health of your gut is connected to your inner ear. This connection is called the “gut-inner ear axis.” They also studied how an imbalance in the gut can cause hearing loss, especially the type called sensorineural hearing loss.
What is Gut Dysbiosis?
Gut dysbiosis happens when the balance of bacteria in your stomach is off. Normally, your gut has a mix of helpful and harmful bacteria. When something like a poor diet or medicine messes up this balance, it can cause problems. This imbalance can lead to serious health issues, like mental health problems or diseases like Alzheimer’s.
How Can Gut Dysbiosis Affect Hearing?
The study shows that when you have gut dysbiosis, especially from eating too much fat, it can cause hearing loss. Here’s how it works:
- Gut dysbiosis can harm the stomach lining and cause what’s called a “leaky gut.”
- A leaky gut lets bad bacteria and toxins get into your bloodstream, causing inflammation all over your body.
- These toxins and harmful substances can reach your inner ear and damage the barrier that protects it.
- If this barrier is damaged, toxins can get into the inner ear and cause swelling in the cochlea, an organ that helps you hear. This swelling can eventually lead to hearing loss.
What Can You Do?
To help prevent gut dysbiosis and possibly reduce the risk of hearing loss, it’s important to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
If you’re concerned you or someone you care about may have a hearing loss, call Precision Hearing at (352) 404-5671 today to schedule an appointment.
1 Kociszewska, D. (2021). The link between gut dysbiosis caused by a high-fat diet and hearing loss. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8708400/#sec5-ijms-22-13177