6 Things Your Ears Are Trying to Tell You
To think that our ears are capable of doing
more than hearing seems hard to believe. But the ears are in fact
responsible for other major tasks too. For example, they regulate
balance and send info about your head position to your brain. In
addition, everything about your ears, including the wax they produce,
can potentially provide clues about the state of your general health.
Here are 6 things your ears may be trying to tell you:
1. You have diabetes - or are at risk of developing it
In the US, hearing loss is the third most common health problem. But, it
can also be a symptom of various systemic diseases like diabetes. In
fact, a 2008 study funded by the National Institutes of Health found
that hearing loss is twice as common among people who have diabetes.
Pre-diabetic adults (whose blood glucose levels are above-normal) had a
30% higher rate of hearing loss than people with normal blood sugar
levels. The link between hearing loss and diabetes is not yet known, but
it may have something to do with blood sugar supply to the inner ear,
which can be compromised in diabetics. Furthermore, metabolic changes
that occur in diabetics can be toxic to the inner ear particularly when
the disease isn't well-managed.
2. Your arteries may be clogged
Next time you're in front of the mirror check your earlobes. Are they
smooth and unwrinkled? Then you don't need to be concerned. If however
you spot a diagonal crease, it might be worth bringing the subject
matter up with your doctor, as this could be an indicator of heart
disease. In fact, in a 2012 study, conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center in Los Angeles and published in The American Journal of
Cardiology, found that subjects with a diagonal earlobe crease were more
likely to show signs of heart disease in comparison to those with
wrinkle-free earlobes. Nevertheless, some doctors are skeptical about
this. Still, it doesn't hurt to look into it.
3. You may need to visit your dentist
If you tend to experience ear pain often, the problem may actually be
caused by a jaw problem. In fact frequent ear pain is often
misdiagnosed. One frequent culprit is a disorder of the
temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, which connects your jaw to the bones
that sit in front of each ear. This condition may trigger ear pain when
you chew, talk or open your mouth wide. So, if you continue to
experience ear pain, but get a clean bill of health from your ENT, you
might want to book an appointment with your dentist.
4. You're suffering from anxiety, high blood pressure, or rarely a brain
tumor
Ringing in the ears is a condition known as tinnitus, which can be a
symptom of almost 200 different problems. Symptoms may vary from anxiety
and depression to hypertension. It may also occur after you have
attended a particularly loud concert. Consequently, the symptom by
itself is no cause for concern. In rare cases, tinnitus can indicate a
benign brain tumor known as an acoustic neuroma, which grows on the
nerve, affecting hearing. If tinnitus occurs for a short time, you need
not worry. See your doctor if it persists for a couple of months though.
5. You're struggling with allergies
Allergy symptoms are usually flagged when your eyes start to water or
you get a runny nose. Nevertheless, you should pay attention to your
ears too. If they itch, swell or feel clogged, it may mean that
something is not agreeing with you. When you nose gets congested, it
affects the functionality of the Eustachian tube that connects your nose
to your ears, leading to a sensation of clogged ears. Using a
humidifier, popping decongestants and drinking lots of fluids should
help ease nasal congestion, relieving that muffled-ear feeling.