Hot Sauce — Ototoxic?

[El BUZZ]

I've never asked myself about this but... I abuse hot sauce. And I mean HOT. High concentrations of capsaicin. Habanero, scotch bonnet, trinidad scorpion...

Could this addiction be hurting my hearing?

Please, don't tell me to quit!

 

[Michael B]

I researched your question and came up with the following:

Spicy foods could lead to temporary deafness for a few different reasons. The Eustachian tubes, which connect the throat to the ears, help to normalize pressure in inner ear. When these tubes are blocked by an excess mucous, which is created when you eat something spicy, these tubes can become blocked.

 

[astaff14]

I also eat a lot of spicy food and I haven't ever really noticed it affecting my tinnitus. I do think excessive salt can affect it badly though.

 

[Tom Okay]

Hey @El BUZZ! I'm a hot sauce fan too. Did you find any more information on whether spicy food is to be avoided?

I mean, I never experienced any issues with hot sauce or wasabi and my tinnitus before. I have had mild tinnitus for many years, but now that my tinnitus has gotten much worse, I am sad if I have to give up the hot stuff.

Sorry to open this old thread (but I need to know

 

[Strawberryblonde]

I had a hot curry last night and as soon as I started eating it, my nose started to drip and also became blocked up to the point I couldn't breathe through it. I think the hotness or spices play a part in messing up the lining of the nose, causing swelling etc.

My tinnitus is louder today, it could be a coincidence or it could be a correlation.

Not going to give the hot curry up though, too tasty!