It's National Men's Health Week

While you’re weighing-in, checking your blood pressure, and lacing up your sneakers, consider getting a baseline hearing test. The list of quality of life improvements with treated hearing loss is vast. Treating hearing loss helps men maintain a more engaged, active lifestyle at both work and home. On the other hand, research has shown an association between untreated hearing loss and a whole range of physical, mental, and emotional conditions—from depression, anxiety, and strained relationships to cognitive decline, difficulty learning new tasks, and even falling. A national Better Hearing Institute study, in fact, uncovered income loss as an under-recognized consequence of untreated hearing loss. In recent years, considerable information has emerged on the link between hearing loss and several common chronic diseases that men suffer—including heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression. While research is still needed to fully understand the association between hearing loss and these illnesses, this relatively new information makes it all the more important that men obtain a baseline hearing test and include hearing health as part of routine medical care. For more information on National Men’s Health Week, visit www.menshealthmonth.org. For more information on why healthy hearing is an important part of overall health and quality of life and for more details of the findings listed above, visit www.betterhearing.org. For more local information on how to obtain a baseline hearing screening, visit precisionhearingca.com