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When it comes to hearing loss, the associated factors can often surprise us. Seemingly unlikely lifestyle habits and health conditions are associated with hearing loss at the level of statistical trends, even if we can’t determine a causal relationship. One of the factors that has shown some kind of relationship is the frequent use of painkillers.
Past studies have shown that there is a relationship between frequent use of these medications and hearing loss, but researchers were curious to know how much painkiller use would be associated with a higher rate of hearing loss. A recent study has unearthed that information. Let’s take a look at the study before continuing to consider what other things you can do to prevent it before it’s too late.
The Regular Use of Long-term Analgesics
In 2017 a team of researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital published an article titled “Duration of Analgesic Use and Risk of Hearing Loss in Women” in the American Journal of Epidemiology. This paper was based on a study of 55,850 women who reported their use of painkillers and experiences of hearing loss. These women were asked about their experiences annually from 1990 to 2012, leading to a total of 873,376 points of data!
This big data set helps us make solid inferences about the relationships between painkiller use and hearing loss over time. The study considered three types of painkillers: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin. The researchers defined regular use of these drugs as two doses or more per week, on average. This definition of regular use allowed them to track levels of hearing loss over time and to relate that progression to the years of regular use.
The Results of the Study
When the results came in, the scholars found that those women who regularly used NSAID such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen did have higher rates of hearing loss than their counterparts who did not use these drugs regularly. On the other hand, those who used aspirin with that regularity did not demonstrate a similar effect. These results led the researchers to believe that with sustained use over time, NSAID and acetaminophen can be considered “ototoxic” substances.
In other words, they can be defined in terms of a risk of hearing loss. How exactly that hearing loss occurs is the target of further study. One possibility is that these medications restrict the flow of oxygen to the inner ear, making those sensitive hair cells susceptible to damage. Another possibility is that they inhibit the glucose that coats the hair cells, placing them at risk of breakage. Finally, studies with rodents have shown that they may enact oxidative stress mechanisms, meaning in other words that they oxidize the cells at a higher rate than they can be repaired by the body’s natural response.
The Implications for Your Lifestyle
What does this mean for your lifestyle? In the first place, you should consult with your doctor before engaging in sustained, regular use of NSAID or acetaminophen over long periods of time. Although there is no evidence that temporary use is a problem, it is the regularity of that use that seems to be a problem in this study.
When you talk with your doctor, be sure to mention your concern for hearing health. In addition to consultation with your medical doctor, it may be time to talk with your hearing health professional about your ongoing needs. Getting a baseline hearing test is essential information to track the progression of your hearing ability over time. If you get a baseline test and keep it updated, then it will be apparent to hearing professionals if and when loss begins to occur.
If you or your loved one is over the age of 60 years, it is recommended to get annual hearing tests to keep the baseline result up to date. When your hearing is assisted, you can reap many other benefits for cognitive, mental, and physical health, so don’t delay making your appointment for a hearing test!