It’s likely that you’ve already detected that you don’t hear as well as you used to. Hearing loss typically develops due to decisions you make without realizing they’re affecting your hearing.

With a few simple lifestyle changes, many kinds of hearing loss can be prevented. Let’s look at six surprising secrets that will help you preserve your hearing.

1. Regulate Your Blood Pressure

Consistently high blood pressure is not good. A study revealed that people who have higher than-average blood pressure are 52% more likely to develop hearing loss, not to mention other health problems.

Take action to reduce your blood pressure and prevent hearing damage. See a doctor right away and never ignore your high blood pressure. Management of blood pressure includes correct diet, exercise, stress management, and following your doctor’s advice.

2. Stop Smoking

There are plenty of reasons to quit smoking, here’s another: People who smoke are 15% more likely to suffer from hearing loss. What’s even more alarming is that there’s a 28% higher probability of someone developing hearing problems if they are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke. The dangerous repercussions of second-hand smoke are not only harmful, they also remain in the air for long periods.

If you’re a smoker, protect your hearing and consider quitting. If you hang out with a smoker, take actions to minimize your exposure to second-hand smoke.

3. Keep Your Diabetes Under Control

One in four adults is either pre-diabetic or diabetic. Unless they make some significant lifestyle changes, somebody who is pre-diabetic will very likely develop diabetes within 5 years.

High blood sugar harms blood vessels, which makes it very difficult for them to efficiently carry nutrients. A diabetic person is more than two times as likely to experience hearing loss compared to a non-diabetic individual.

If you have diabetes, protect your hearing by taking the correct steps to control it. If you are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes, safeguard your hearing by making lifestyle changes to prevent it.

4. Lose Some Weight

This is more about your health than feeling good about how you look. As your Body Mass Index (BMI) rises, so does your risk of hearing loss and other health disorders. The chance of developing hearing loss increases by 17% for a mildly obese woman with a BMI of 30 to 34. For someone with a BMI of 40 (moderate obesity), the risk goes up to 25%.

Take action to lose that extra weight. Something as simple as walking for 30 minutes every day can reduce your chance of hearing loss and prolong your life.

5. OTC Drugs Shouldn’t be Overused

Hearing impairment can be the result of some over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The more often these medicines are taken over a prolonged period of time, the higher the risk.

Medications including acetaminophen, naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin are known to lead to hearing loss. Take these medicines sparingly and talk to your doctor if you’re taking them regularly.

If you’re using the recommended dose for the periodic headache, studies indicate you’ll probably be okay. The danger of hearing loss goes up to 40% for men, however, when these medications are taken on a day-to-day basis.

Your doctor’s advice should always be implemented. Your doctor may be able to recommend some lifestyle changes that will reduce your dependence on these medicines if you are using them every day.

6. Eat More Broccoli

Broccoli is high in nutrients and vitamins like C and K and also is high in iron. Iron is vital to blood circulation and a healthy heart. Iron helps your blood carry nutrients and oxygen to cells to keep them healthy and nourished.

For vegetarians or people who don’t eat meat very often, eating a sufficient amount of plant-based iron is important. The iron found in plants is not as bioavailable as the iron in meat so people in this group are more likely to be deficient in iron.

More than 300,000 people were examined by Pennsylvania State University. People who have anemia (extreme iron deficiency) are twice as likely, according to this research, to develop sensorineural hearing loss than people who have normal iron concentrations. Age-related irreversible hearing loss is what the technical term “sensorineural hearing loss” refers to.

The inner ear has delicate hair cells that detect sounds and interact with the brain to transmit the volume and frequency of those sounds. If an iron deficiency or poor circulation causes these little hairs to die they will be gone forever.

Don’t wait to get a hearing exam because you’re never too young. Prevent hearing loss by implementing these simple tips in your daily life.