Who would guess that running can benefit hearing? Well, a recent study from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) suggests that hearing is tied directly to heart health! Hearing begins to decline by the age of 50, but this study discovered that a 50 year or older person who has a healthy cardiovascular system can hear as well as someone in their 30s. Researchers believe this is because cardiovascular fitness ensures that oxygen-rich blood travels throughout the body, surrounding organs, and head, which contributes to a better nervous system in the cochlea (the sense organ that translates sound into nerve impulses that are then sent to the brain). Since we know that running provides positive benefits for the cardiovascular system, it is safe to say that running does indeed promote healthy ears. Try running for 20-30 minutes a day, five days a week to support good cardiovascular health, and see if you can prevent yourself from ever needing to purchase a hearing aid!