Woman who take painkillers at least twice a week, are at the risk of damaging hearing permanently.
That’s according to a new study which has found an association between the long-term use of paracetamol or ibuprofen and reported hearing loss.
Around one in 12 women take paracetamol on two days of every week, usually to help with aches and pains.
But paracetamol, ibuprofen and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs taken this often for more than six years raises the risk of developing hearing loss by 9%.
These drugs are thought to damage the ear by removing protection from the inner ear, reducing blood supply, and damaging the tiny hairs that register sound.
Paracetamol is also believed to deplete antioxidants within the ear, making the cochlea more vulnerable to noise-induced damage, according to the Daily Mail.
In the UK, around one in six people in the UK have hearing problems, which can leave people feeling isolated and has been linked to speeding up memory loss and dementia.
The study, which examined 55,850 women between the age of 44 and 69, revealed that almost half reported a hearing problem.
Dr Gary Curhan, senior author of the study published in the Journal of Epidemiology said: ‘Hearing loss is extremely common and can have a profound impact on quality of life.
‘Finding modifiable risk factors could help us identify ways to lower risk before hearing loss begins and slow progression in those with hearing loss.’
The study, believed to be the first on the long term effects of using paracetamol and hearing loss, states: ‘If this is a causal relation, it suggests that a substantial proportion of hearing loss attributable to use of analgesics (painkillers) is potentially preventable.’
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