It’s perfectly normal and even healthy to experience feelings of frustration and anger in response to stressful events. However, you need to know how to process these feelings in a productive way, or your health can be affected. In fact, research shows a link between frustration, anger and hearing loss. We review how these conditions are linked below.
Impact of Frustration and Anger on Blood Pressure
One study established a link between trouble processing emotions like 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 in 2000.
For the study, researchers examined data from a cross-sectional study of 790 male Japanese workers ages 20 to 60. According to the authors, “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
High blood pressure, also called hypertension (HTN), is extremely common. In fact, a 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 in 2021.
For this study, researchers examined data from 300 patients between the ages of 21 and 50 who had documented hypertension, as well as data from another 300 participants who did not have hypertension. The researchers 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 the Link?
Hypertension damages your body, particularly the arteries, which take oxygen and nutrients to your cells. More specifically, hypertension causes the arteries to narrow, and when they are too narrow, your cells are deprived of these necessities.
The structures within your inner ear are extremely 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
The good news is, there are many ways you can work to manage feelings like frustration and anger in a healthy way, and ultimately lower your blood pressure and protect your hearing health. You can try:
- Learning mindfulness and meditation.
- Taking classes at Studio One Eleven Pilates & Wellness in Green Valley.
- Reading self-help books.
- Talking to a counselor.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call Arizona Hearing Specialists today.