The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) urges people with cardiovascular disease to get their hearing checked out.

The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) has urged people with cardiovascular disease to get their hearing checked out as a result of the growing body of research claiming that individuals' hearing health and cardiovascular health may be connected.

The development comes in recognition of World Heart Day, which took place on September 29th and was first launched back in 2000 in a bid to increase awareness and prevention of heart disease and stroke across the globe. When combined, the two are the world's leading cause of death, with 17.1 million lives claimed each year.

Research has found that there may be a link between a healthy cardiovascular system and healthy ears; it is no surprise that the health of one part of the body significantly impacts the health of another part. Studies have revealed that hearing loss can result from inadequate blood flow to the inner ear and the upset of the organ's blood vessels.

The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow and consequently provides the perfect body part to detect abnormalities in the condition of blood vessels, compared to other parts of the body that aren't as sensitive.

Dr Sergei Kochkin, BHI's executive director, said: "Heart disease poses a tremendous health threat throughout the world. Yet, an alarming number of people don't understand how serious the threat of heart disease is to them personally or how closely intertwined it is with other health conditions, such as hearing health. We urge people to learn about heart disease, identify their risks, and take action today to protect their health."