Causes of a Tinnitus Spike While a spike may feel random, it is usually the direct cause of a combination of internal or external factors. Figuring out the cause can be challenging. Sleep deprivation, anxiety and stress are the three most common factors that can contribute to tinnitus.
Anything that engages the fight or flight response in your sympathetic nervous system will likely affect your tinnitus. The most common things that trigger tinnitus spikes are stress and lack of sleep.
Ringing in the ears (Tinnitus) description: Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) is a common sign and symptom of anxiety disorder, anxiety and panic attacks, and chronic stress (hyperstimulation). Many people who experience anxiety disorder develop ringing in the ears, as do many of those who are chronically stressed.
Some people notice their tinnitus increases after a stressful incident or life-changing event. For about 80 per cent of people, their tinnitus subsides or is no longer as noticeable once the stressful event has passed. For others, however, the tinnitus remains and often increases in intensity over time.
Research shows that stress can be a trigger for tinnitus, or make it worse. And some people, though not all, find that tinnitus makes them feel stressed and anxious. So you may find yourself in a cycle: stress makes your tinnitus worse, which in turn makes you feel more stressed or anxious.
exposure to loud sounds. extreme stress or trauma. degeneration of the hair cells in the cochlea. ear problems, such as otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the middle ear)
Medications for Tinnitus
For some, treatment with low doses of anti-anxiety drugs -- such as Valium or antidepressants such as Elavil -- help reduce tinnitus. The use of a steroid placed into the middle ear along with an anti-anxiety medicine called alprazolam has been shown to be effective for some people.
In most cases, stress-induced tinnitus disappears on its own once you destress, but in some cases, it can become chronic. That's why it's important to learn how to counteract tinnitus, or rather, how to live with it so that this ringing in the ears doesn't damage our daily lives.
If tinnitus is especially noticeable in quiet settings, try using a white noise machine to mask the noise from tinnitus. If you don't have a white noise machine, a fan, soft music or low-volume radio static also may help. Limit alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
Various studies showed that up to 77% of tinnitus sufferers may present psychiatric comorbidities. The outcomes of these studies also demonstrated that subjects with tinnitus show a lifetime prevalence of depression significantly higher than the general population.
For some people, tinnitus triggers the body's 'fight-or-flight' system, also known as the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for emergencies. Body and mind then process tinnitus as dangerous, threatening, and important. It happens very fast and is difficult to control.
Extended periods of anxiety can wreak havoc on your health, including your hearing. Tinnitus: The perceived ringing or buzzing in your ears is aggravated by stress and high hypertension, or high blood pressure. Hypertension increases when anxiety takes hold, making the ringing seem louder.
Hearing a ringing, buzzing, chirping or humming in the ear is known as tinnitus. While the condition itself will stay the same, how you perceive the sounds can fluctuate. This is known as a tinnitus spike.
Sleep and stress
And, when stress levels go up tinnitus can seem louder. If you have not slept properly one night you might experience higher stress levels, and your tinnitus might seem louder than on a normal day. Not only that but sleeping properly also helps with our ability to handle stress.
Sound Therapy
If one has something in their environment that sounds like their tinnitus, the brain has a source to attribute to the sound and is able to become more relaxed. There are many ways to implement sound therapy. Common at-home methods can include turning a fan on, listening to music or the tv.
This pressure and stress are very likely to travel up into your inner ear and lead to the tinnitus experience. But most of these episodes are short-lived. It pops up at the height of an anxiety attack and then goes away quickly.
If you experience your tinnitus in short bursts, maybe only a few minutes each, there's a good chance that it will fade over time. However, if it has been going on for months or even years, then it's likely that the condition is permanent.
See an audiologist if it persists more than two weeks
Most temporary tinnitus cases will last for two weeks, so if your symptoms last longer than that and things aren't getting better, it makes sense to take action.
Researchers studied the effects of serotonin, an amino acid neurotransmitter in the brain known to impact mood, on hearing-related sensory nerve cells in the brain. They found increased serotonin levels may cause an increase in the symptoms of tinnitus.
Antihistamines can help reduce tinnitus if the tinnitus is caused by allergy symptoms. If you develop tinnitus symptoms and are taking antihistamines, it is important to consult a doctor.
Important associated symptoms include hearing loss, vertigo, ear pain, and ear discharge.