How Do You Manage Tinnitus?
Managing tinnitus involves understanding of what it is and what causes it.
Tinnitus is the sound of ringing of the ears, when no external stimulus is present.
This sound may also be heard as a whistling, buzzing, hissing or whooshing.
For some people, the sounds created by tinnitus come and go after a short period of time.
For others, they are a constant annoyance.
The pitch may be high or low, and it can occur in one ear or both.
A doctor may be able to hear the tinnitus in some cases, but not all.
It depends on the source of the tinnitus.
Tinnitus is caused by damage to the hair-like cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear.
It can also be caused by damage to cells along the auditory nerve.
This nerve connects the ear to the brain.
Damage to these cells may come with age or be the result of injury from loud noises.
A person with too much cholesterol in the blood may have an increased blood flow to the ear.
In such a case, a person's tinnitus would take on the rhythm of the heartbeat.
This is known as pulsatile tinnitus.
Some people have problems with their bite, or TMJ, which is pain in the temporomandibular joint, or jaw.
These people have a higher incidence of tinnitus.
For these individuals, stress can make their tinnitus worse.
A visit to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (ENT) is advisable to determine if there is anything serious (such as an acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor that requires surgery).
The ENT should also administer a hearing test to see if you have a loss of hearing that needs to be addressed.
If the ENT does not find anything wrong, he may suggest relaxation techniques that can possibly help relieve tinnitus.
Certain foods and medications can exacerbate the symptoms of tinnitus.
Keeping a daily log can help you pinpoint the trigger.
You should include the type of sound you hear, what you ate and what you did immediately prior, as well as any medications you took.
Pay close attention to aspirin, antibiotics and antidepressants.
Following the above suggestions can help you keep your tinnitus under control.
Tinnitus is the sound of ringing of the ears, when no external stimulus is present.
This sound may also be heard as a whistling, buzzing, hissing or whooshing.
For some people, the sounds created by tinnitus come and go after a short period of time.
For others, they are a constant annoyance.
The pitch may be high or low, and it can occur in one ear or both.
A doctor may be able to hear the tinnitus in some cases, but not all.
It depends on the source of the tinnitus.
Tinnitus is caused by damage to the hair-like cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear.
It can also be caused by damage to cells along the auditory nerve.
This nerve connects the ear to the brain.
Damage to these cells may come with age or be the result of injury from loud noises.
A person with too much cholesterol in the blood may have an increased blood flow to the ear.
In such a case, a person's tinnitus would take on the rhythm of the heartbeat.
This is known as pulsatile tinnitus.
Some people have problems with their bite, or TMJ, which is pain in the temporomandibular joint, or jaw.
These people have a higher incidence of tinnitus.
For these individuals, stress can make their tinnitus worse.
A visit to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (ENT) is advisable to determine if there is anything serious (such as an acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor that requires surgery).
The ENT should also administer a hearing test to see if you have a loss of hearing that needs to be addressed.
If the ENT does not find anything wrong, he may suggest relaxation techniques that can possibly help relieve tinnitus.
Certain foods and medications can exacerbate the symptoms of tinnitus.
Keeping a daily log can help you pinpoint the trigger.
You should include the type of sound you hear, what you ate and what you did immediately prior, as well as any medications you took.
Pay close attention to aspirin, antibiotics and antidepressants.
Following the above suggestions can help you keep your tinnitus under control.
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