A long term study conducted by Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Vanderbilt University and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, that has been running since 1986, has found evidence that taking aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen two or more times a week can contribute to hearing loss and/or tinnitus (ringing in the ears), especially for men under the age of 50.[1]
While the researchers did not look into the biological cause of this connection, they theorize that aspirin and acetaminophen reduce blood flow to specific parts of the inner ear.
Also, acetaminophen may block glutathione, which helps protect the inner ear from noise damage.
Previously this study had only been done on men, but a 14 year follow up study started in 1995 was done on women and found similar results. In both cases, those under the age of 50 experienced more hearing loss than older test subjects.[2]
What can I do if I have hearing loss or pain?
Natural Hearing Loss Remedies:
- B vitamins – Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) can be a sign of nerve damage in the ears. B vitamins, especially benfotiamine and methylcobalamin have been shown to support healthy nerve function.
- Ear Wax removal – A surprising amount of hearing issues in the United States are caused by simple wax buildup. See your doctor or a specialist who can tell you if this applies to you.
- Hearing exercises – By practicing focusing on sounds, locating sounds and picking out specific sounds in a noisy environment, it is possible to improve hearing clarity through practice.
- General exercise – Exercise increases blood flow which helps get vital nutrients into the tissues of the ears to keep them as healthy as possible.
- N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) – A naturally occurring antioxidant that has been used for years to treat acetaminophen overdose and break up mucus; it also increases the production of glutathione, which helps protect the inner ear from noise damage.
Natural Pain Remedies:
- Turmeric – Turmeric is an excellent nutrient for joint and inflammation based pain and helps support the body’s natural inflammation response.
- Cloves – Clove supplements or clove oil contain eugenol, which is a natural pain reliever that can be found in some over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Devil’s claw root – Devil’s claw is an herb that may ease low back pain and common arthritis discomfort.
- Boswellia – In one study, boswellia in combination with ashwaghanda, turmeric and zinc effectively treated pain and stiffness, without the stomach irritation that is a common side effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).[3]
- Vitamin D – If you have fibromyalgia, you may have chronic pain and low levels of vitamin D. A vitamin D supplement may improve your vitamin D levels and reduce your pain.
Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831770/
2. https://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/08/29/aje.kws146.abstract
