Winter Maladies: Natural Approaches
June Russell's Health Facts
Smoking - Hearing
Researchers found that smokers were twice as likely as non-smokers to have trouble hearing. ( U.S. News & World Report, “News from the World of Medicine,” Reader’s Digest, Oct. 1998)
Smokers are more likely to have hearing impairment, especially at high-frequency noise levels. This is probably because of decreased blood flow to the inner ear, and that smokers are less healthy than nonsmokers which could also contribute to hearing loss. (“Smoking may cause hearing loss,” Reuters Health, HealthCentral.com - July 2001) Smokers may be 2 to 3 times more likely to have hearing impairment than never-smokers, says a study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2000.
A study of almost 5,000 people showed that smokers were 70% more likely to have hearing loss, also hearing loss among smokers increased with the number of pack-years of smoking. Hearing loss also occurs with exposure to passive smoke. (JAMA 1998 in Health Gazette newsletter, May 1999)
Smokers face nearly twice the risk of developing hearing loss as do nonsmokers. (“Smoke, Hearing Loss Linked, Study Finds,” Sally Squires, Washington Post Health, June 23, 1998)
Smoking is a risk factor for Meniere’s disease. (healthanswers.com -
Dec. 1999)