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August 14, 2008
Dear Friend,
Though problems with hearing may not spell an end to independence, they can dramatically reduce your quality of life. Hearing loss affects one in three Americans over the age of 65 and half of those over age 85. The primary cause of age-related hearing loss is damage to the hair cells in the inner ear that transmit sounds to the brain. And what damages these hair cells most is exposure to loud noises.
As anyone who has ever been subjected to a wailing siren or a screaming baby can tell you, noise is a physical stressor. Not only does it damage these hair cells, but it also causes the blood vessels of your inner ear to constrict, reducing the delivery of blood and nutrients to the delicate hair cells, harming them further. Any condition that impairs blood flow, such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or diabetes, also contributes to hair cell damage and hearing loss.
The good news is, there are many things you can do to preserve your hearing as you age. You may even be able to halt or reverse damage that has already occurred. Here are a few simple tips for safeguarding your hearing.
- Cut Out the Noise: To help protect your ears, invest in a good pair of ear plugs—they reduce noise 15 to 30 decibels if worn properly. You can find a good set of ear plugs at any pharmacy. If you’re in a situation where you’re unexpectedly exposed to loud noise, cover your ears with your hands.
In addition, make a conscious effort to keep the volume of the radio or TV at an audible level, but no louder.
- Clean Out Your Ears Regularly: It’s important that your ear passages are as clear as possible. Ear wax can be softened and removed by putting 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in a glass of warm water for several minutes. Once the peroxide is adequately warmed, tilt your head to the side and place a few drops of the liquid into your ear, keeping your head to the side for about three minutes. Repeat on the other side and wipe out the interior of the ear with a cotton cloth when you are finished.
- Keep Up on Innovations in Hearing Aids: Technology has come a long, long way in restoring hearing acuity, even in people who have been deaf for years. These days, hearing aids are barely noticeable, remarkably effective, and very sophisticated. Programmable aids and amplification circuits that reduce distortion are widely available.
Other helpful tools include amplified phones. There are two high-quality amplified phones I highly recommend, one corded and one cordless. They’re made by a company called ClearSounds Communications and they let you hear even the softest voices on the other end of the line. In addition to letting you adjust the volume, they let you adjust the tone, which means you can reshape how voices sound to meet your particular hearing needs.
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- Try Fenugreek Seed Tea: Now, there’s no research backing this up, or any biological reason, that I know of, why it should work, but I’ve heard two stories of people who have restored their hearing to a large extent by drinking fenugreek seed tea once a day. You can get these seeds at health food stores. Boil them in a pot, simmer for five minutes, then let sit for another twenty minutes. Strain the water and drink it while it’s still lukewarm. I can’t promise it’ll work, but if I had hearing problems, I’d certainly try it.
- Check Your Supplement Intake: One of the best ways to help preserve your hearing is with proper nutrition. Supplementing with B-complex vitamins—especially folic acid—will help nurture the nerves that conduct hearing impulses and ensure a rich supply of oxygenated blood to the inner ear.
Studies also suggest that vitamin A, zinc, and magnesium benefit the inner ear. In addition, Ginkgo biloba helps improve circulation, and prevent free radical damage.
Maybe you have tinnitus, which is described as “ringing in the ears.” It’s estimated that one out of every five people will experience some degree of tinnitus in their lifetime. Here’s what I recommend, in addition to the guidelines given above for general hearing preservation:
- Avoid These Drugs: Large doses of aspirin may increase your chances of developing tinnitus. Stay away from diuretics or water pills, such as Lasix, nerve stimulants (caffeine, nicotine), and gentamycin class antibotics, which are toxic to the inner ear.
- Monitor Your Cholestrol Level and Fat Intake: An associate clinical professor of otolaryngology at West Virginia University School of Medicine, found that 60 percent of patients with tinnitus have elevated blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. When these levels became normal as a result of dietary changes, the tinnitus frequently diminished or disappeared. A reduced-fat, high-fiber diet is one of the cornerstones of the Whitaker Program, and if you suffer from tinnitus, there’s yet another incentive to modify your diet.
- Use a Vibrating Toothbrush to Massage the Area Around Your Ear: A friend of mine discovered this brilliant technique to help relieve tinnitus. Place a pencil-top eraser over the bristles on a Sonicare Toothbrush and massage around your ear, moving it and adjusting the pressure until you call feel vibration inside your ear. Used daily, you should begin to notice less ringing in your ears. You can find Sonicare high-frequency toothbrushes in drug and department stores.
There’s no question that avoiding noisy environments and taking the necessary protective precautions are the most important things you can do to preserve your hearing. Take these tips to heart and you’ll have a better chance of hearing clearly today and for the rest of your life.
Here’s to your health,
Julian Whitaker, MD
P.S. I recently returned from an incredible Subscriber Seminar in Atlanta, Georgia. I’ll be sharing a few of the most impressive success stories, photos, and more in the September issue of Health & Healing. Not a subscriber? Click here to become one today. I have more subscriber-only events planned in other cities in the upcoming months…don’t miss out!
Family-Friendly Snacks
For a portable, filling snack, Dr. Whitaker recommends high-protein bars. There are two brands he whole-heartedly recommends—NuGo Smarte Carb Bars and PermaLean Protein Bars. Both choices come in several delicious flavors and are a convenient, truly healthy snack for the entire family.
Get an Energy Boost This Summer With Energy Essentials Plus
Energy Essentials Plus is a rejuvenating drink that delivers Peak ATP directly to your cells and muscles. ATP is the fuel that keeps your body running, giving you the physical energy you need to stay active and recover quickly from exercise or exertion. It can even help you just keep going when you’ve got a lot to do.
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