Do you suffer from tinnitus?

Tinnitus is also known as tinnitus.  Tinnitus is the perception of sound when there is no external noise. Although it is often called "ringing in the ears," tinnitus can manifest itself in many different perceptions of sound, including buzzing, hissing, ringing, hissing, and clicking. In rare cases, tinnitus sufferers report hearing music. Tinnitus can be an acute (temporary) or chronic (ongoing) condition.

There are two types of tinnitus:

Subjective tinnitus: Noises in the head or ear that are only audible to the individual patient. Subjective tinnitus is usually due to auditory and neurological reactions to hearing loss, but can also be caused by other catalysts. More than 99% of all reported tinnitus cases are subjective.

Objective tinnitus: Noises in the head or ear that are audible to other people as well as the patient. These sounds are usually caused by internal functions of the body's circulatory (blood flow) and somatic (musculoskeletal movement) systems. Objective tinnitus is very rare, accounting for less than 1% of all tinnitus cases.

This animated video shows how sounds travel from the ear to the brain, where they are interpreted and understood. You may also want to watch: How Do We Hear?, a step-by-step explanation of hearing.

The sound itself is produced because there are tiny hair cells in the inner ear that move when sound waves arrive.  This movement causes electrical signals to be sent through the nerve that runs from the ear to the auditory nerve in the brain, which interprets these signals as sound.

Causes of tinnitus

Tinnitus usually occurs as a result of an underlying cause that is often related to a health condition.

For many people tinnitus can occur due to one of the following causes:

Hearing loss .  Tinnitus occurs when the cilia in the inner ear become bent or broken, either due to age or too much exposure to loud noises, and this can cause electrical impulses to leak into the brain for no reason.

Ear infection or blockage of the ear canal .  Ear canals can become blocked by fluid buildup, infection, wax, dirt, or other foreign material that can alter the pressure in the ear and cause tinnitus.

Head and neck injuries.  A blow or trauma to the head or neck can affect the inner ear, auditory nerves, or some brain function that is linked to hearing.  Sometimes these injuries can cause tinnitus in only one ear.

Medications .  Some medications that can cause tinnitus are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, but also anticancer drugs, malaria drugs, antidepressants and even diuretics.

The way some medications might trigger tinnitus is by taking very high doses and it may go away when you stop using these medications.

 

Other less common causes :

Tinnitus may manifest as an early symptom of Meniere's disease, where there is abnormal pressure of the ear fluid.

A dysfunction of the Eustachian tube that connects the ear to the throat and can cause the ear to feel blocked.

An abnormal, rigid growth of the ossicles in the ear that tends to be an inherited condition.

Muscle spasms in the inner ear causing blockage, tinnitus and hearing loss. Sometimes without cause, but sometimes due to neurological diseases.

Problems with the temporomandibular joint, where the jaw meets the skull, may cause tinnitus.

Blood vessel conditions such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or malformation of blood vessels can cause blood to move with greater force through veins and arteries.

A neuroma is a benign tumor on the cranial nerve, which runs from the brain to the ear and controls both balance and hearing.  Likewise, other tumors of the head, neck or brain.

Thyroid problems, diabetes, migraines, anemia or other autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have been linked to the onset of tinnitus, according to reports from the Mayo Clinic in the United States. 

 

Anyone can suffer from tinnitus

Age doesn't matter, but your lifestyle does.  Risk factors that may increase the occurrence of tinnitus are:

Constant exposure to loud noises.  Sounds from heavy machinery, saws, firearms, as well as frequent, high-volume use of portable music devices and music players can cause hearing loss related to loud, long-term listening.

As we age, the number of nerve fibers functioning in our ears decreases, which may cause hearing problems related to tinnitus.

In general, men are more likely to develop tinnitus than women.

Certain health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular conditions and even arthritis increase the risk of suffering from tinnitus.

 

Hygiene and prevention

Ear care is important in many ways. Cleaning your ears is one step, while preventing and treating infections is another. Ear care also includes taking steps to avoid unnecessary noise and keeping an eye out for possible hearing loss.

Hygiene tips:

Clean your ears with extra care. Don't clean your ears with anything smaller than a cotton swab on your finger. Don't use cotton buds, cotton swabs, hairpins, or sharp objects to clean your ears. These objects can damage your ear canal or eardrum.

Earwax is your ear's way of cleaning itself. If you have a buildup of earwax that is preventing you from hearing, see a health care professional to have it removed. Don't try to remove it yourself.

If you experience itching or pain in your ears, call your doctor. He or she will examine you, advise you on appropriate treatment, and help you decide whether you need to see a specialist.

If you have pierced ears, regularly clean the earrings and earlobes with alcohol.

Turn down the volume.  Listening to loud music with or without headphones can contribute to hearing loss and tinnitus.

Put on hearing protection.  Especially if your job requires exposure to loud noises such as machinery, chainsaws, firearms or music.

 Maintain good cardiovascular health.  By improving the functioning of your circulatory system through exercise, you activate regulated blood flow to the brain and all associated areas.

 

Alternative treatments

Tinnitus can improve in many people by treating the underlying cause or with treatments that reduce or block out the noise so that the tinnitus is felt less.

Specialists at the Mayo Clinic in the United States suggest acupuncture and some supplements such as melatonin, ginkgo biloba or zinc supplements to counteract tinnitus.

Stress management.  Stress can make tinnitus worse so it is important to resort to practices such as relaxation, meditation and physical exercise that can provide relief.

In more acute cases, it is best to consult your doctor as there are behavioral therapies or medications such as prescription antidepressants.