What is Tinnitus?
Described as “ringing in the ears”, tinnitus (“tin-a-tus” or “tin-eye-tus”) is a subjective condition that is only heard by the patient and no one else. There are varying causes to tinnitus, including exposure to extremely loud noises and medications. Currently, the cure has not been found, but there are solutions to symptom management that are helping people across the country.
According to the Mayo Clinic, tinnitus actually effects 15 to 20 percent of people.
Tinnitus Treatment
At the moment, the cure for tinnitus has yet to be found. Until then, there are plenty of ways to treat it and make it more manageable. Tinnitus treatment options help with the severity of tinnitus and allow people to get back to their lives.
- Stress reducers that include exercise and other activities that range from person-to-person
- Healthy dieting can have a positive effect on tinnitus
- Social interaction helps to relieve feelings of isolation
- Cognitive therapy can reduce the emotional responses to tinnitus, which can then reduce the symptoms
- Breathing and relaxation exercises
- Two of your main enemies for tinnitus is silence and stress. If you’re in a quiet place, have a constant sound in the background (TV, box fan, music).
Tinnitus Causes
- Hearing loss: Doctors and scientists have discovered that people with different kinds of hearing loss can also have tinnitus.
- Loud noises: Too much exposure to loud noises can cause noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Medicine: Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine could be involved.
- Other health problems: Allergies, tumors, problems in the heart and blood vessels, injury of the jaw and neck, anxiety, and auto-immune disorders among others.