Frustration and anger are normal, valid feelings that are common responses to stressful events. However, it’s important to know how to handle these feelings in healthy ways. Otherwise, your health—and even your hearing—may be affected. We review the connection between frustration, anger and hearing health below.
Impact of Frustration & Anger on Blood Pressure
An older study from 2000 study established a link between trouble processing emotions such as anger with high blood pressure (BP).
The study, called, “Impact of anger expression on blood pressure levels in white-collar workers with low-coping behavior,” was published in the journal Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.
Researchers examined data from a cross-sectional study of 790 Japanese male workers ages 20 to 60. The study authors claim, “This study suggests that male workers who do not express their anger have a higher probability of developing high BP when they have no or few stress coping behaviors.”
Impact of High Blood Pressure on Hearing
Hypertension (HTN), another word for high blood pressure, is extremely common; a 2021 study reports that it affects one in four individuals.
This study, called, “Association Between Hypertension and Hearing Loss,” was published in The Cureus Journal of Medical Science.
Researchers examined data from 300 patients with documented hypertension between the ages of 21 and 50, as well as data from another 300 participants who did not have hypertension. They concluded, “Based on our study, HTN is positively correlated with hearing loss. Therefore, longstanding hypertensive patients should be screened regularly in order to assess the status of their hearing abilities.”
Why Is There a Link?
Hypertension harms your body in multiple ways. One of these ways is that it damages the arteries, causing them to narrow. Your arteries take oxygen and nutrients to your cells, and when they are too narrow, your cells are deprived of these necessities.
Your inner ear is extremely delicate and sensitive to changes in blood flow. If the sensory cells in the cochlea don’t receive enough oxygen, they can become damaged or die. Once damaged, they do not regenerate, and the result is permanent sensorineural hearing loss.
What You Can Do
Fortunately, there are many ways you can work to manage feelings, like frustration and anger, and ultimately lower your blood pressure and protect your hearing health. For example, you can:
- Learn mindfulness and meditate.
- Take classes at Urban Fit Yoga Houston.
- Read self-help books.
- Talk to a counselor.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call Hearing Systems today.