The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow. Studies have shown that a healthy cardiovascular system—a person’s heart, arteries, and veins—has a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, inadequate blood flow and trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear can contribute to hearing loss.  Some researchers hypothesize that because the inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow, abnormalities in the condition of blood vessels here could be noted earlier than in other, less sensitive parts of the body.

Moreover, researcher David R. Friedland, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences hypothesized that low-frequency hearing loss may be a potential marker for predicting the presence or potential development of cardiovascular disease.

In addition, according to a study in older adults, the prevalence of suffering from various degrees of hearing loss is 54 percent greater among those who have a history of heart disease than in the general population. The study also indicated that individuals who exercised at least once a week saw a 32 percent reduction in the risk of suffering from hearing loss, when compared to sedentary people.

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