Is there any better way to start your morning than a nice cup of coffee from Cafe Elk Grove? Of course not. That’s why coffee – apart from water – is the most consumed beverage in the world. But how does it affect your health?
The Health Impacts of Coffee
The research on coffee and caffeine consumption has shown mixed reviews. On the one hand, drinking coffee has been associated with a decreased risk of cancers, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver disease and cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, it has also been associated with low birth weight, preterm birth, fractures in women, dementia and depression.
Coffee contains caffeine, a natural stimulant that can also be found in tea, chocolate, energy drinks and medications. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, improving circulation, focus and energy.
Caffeine Consumption & Hearing Loss
Because caffeine also restricts blood vessels and alters blood pressure, researchers have wondered if consuming it can lead to hearing problems, as the ears rely on a good supply of blood flow to help you hear.
However, a large Korean observational study found no connection between caffeine consumption and hearing loss, and even found that people who drank coffee had lower rates of hearing loss than non-drinkers.
There are exceptions, of course. One study found that daily consumption of caffeine may prolong recovery from temporary threshold shift (TTS), which occurs when the delicate sensory hair cells within the inner ear are fatigued. Another study found that people who consume caffeine and take the chemotherapy drug cisplatin are especially at risk of developing hearing loss.
Caffeine Consumption & Tinnitus
There is some anecdotal evidence that avoiding caffeine can help manage symptoms of tinnitus (ringing in the ears). However, this isn’t backed by the research.
One study on women found lower rates of tinnitus among those who consume coffee heavily. Another study supports this, as it found that abstaining from coffee is not only ineffective against tinnitus, but that caffeine withdrawal can actually exacerbate symptoms.
For more information about the relationship between caffeine consumption and hearing health or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call Elk Grove Hearing Care today.