You are at risk of osteoporosis as you get older. But, if you have osteoporosis, there may also be another condition to worry about. A new study links osteoporosis and hearing loss.
Osteoporosis
First, a quick overview of osteoporosis if you don’t already know. It’s a condition that causes your bones to become brittle and weak. When that happens, small stresses like coughing or falling can cause your bones to fracture.
Essentially, your body is unable to keep up with replacing new bone tissue anymore. It’s usually age-related. According to the Mayo Clinic, as you get older, you lose bone mass faster than you can create it.
The Research
As you age, you may experience age-related hearing loss. But, this study is saying something a little different. According to researchers, having osteoporosis can increase your chances of sudden hearing loss.
The collected data was from 10, 660 patients over a ten-year period, from 1998-2008. Researchers found that people with osteoporosis had a 1.76 times higher risk of getting sudden hearing loss than those without osteoporosis.
The results yielded a higher risk factor for people with a more severe form of osteoporosis then counterparts with a mild form of the disease. In addition, scientists noted that the association was for female osteoporosis patients that were 50 years old or older.
Unfortunately, this topic needs more research. Though scientists were able to establish a link, they still don’t know why it exists.
And not all experts are impressed with the figures presented. One doctor called the difference between the two groups “small.” Also adding that it did little to further understanding about the sudden onset of hearing loss.
Finally, despite possible detractors, this study can serve as a jumping off point for further study to find out more about sudden hearing loss and its link to osteoporosis.
Final Thoughts
Despite the link, the study findings showed between osteoporosis and hearing loss; it’s obvious this topic needs further exploration. Experts don’t know why the link is there. So, it’s difficult to apply preventative measures to the general population.
Consequently, until that important question is answered be diligent about monitoring your hearing capacity. Especially if you have osteoporosis.
