As if you needed another reason to quit smoking: researchers at my Alma Mater, Vanderbilt University, have concluded that smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to suffer complications and worse hearing following middle ear surgery.
In a study of more than 1,100 people who underwent surgery to fix chronic ear problems during the period 1990 to 2005, current smokers had worse overall hearing after ear surgery than nonsmokers and were more likely to need follow-up ear operations. Sixty-three percent of the patients studied were nonsmokers, 21% were current smokers, 5% were former smokers, and smoking status wasn’t available for the remaining 11% of the group. But the good news is: quitting and staying smoke-free for five years leveled the results. The hearing results and outcomes for former smokers after five years of smoking cessation were the same as nonsmokers.
Take care of your ears and reduce or eliminate tobacco from your lifestyle. If you or a loved one is recovering from ear surgery and wants to quit smoking, check out the American Lung Association website at:
Quit Smoking