Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system. For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or with other treatments that reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.
Antibiotics, aspirin, or other drugs may also cause ear noises. Alcohol, caffeine, or smoking may worsen tinnitus if the person already has it. Sometimes, tinnitus is a sign of high blood pressure, an allergy, or anemia. In rare cases, tinnitus is a sign of a serious problem such as a tumor or aneurysm.
While it has no clear cure or cause, it affects millions of people in the world on some level and can be challenging to cope with. Thankfully, it's entirely possible to live a normal life even with tinnitus.
Tinnitus causes changes in brain networks
Though it sounds positive, in the long term, it can negatively impact the brain. In a study by researchers at the University of Illinois, they found that chronic tinnitus has been linked to changes in certain networks in the brain.
Neurologic causes include head injury, whiplash, multiple sclerosis, vestibular schwannoma (commonly called an acoustic neuroma), and other cerebellopontine-angle tumors.
Many studies have reported that poor cognitive performance was associated with tinnitus. However, unlike hearing loss, which has been reported to be an independent risk factor for dementia, the link between tinnitus and cognitive impairment remains unclear [1].
Never let any condition go untreated: even something as simple as an ear infection may lead to serious tinnitus and hearing problems. Untreated tinnitus can be incredibly dangerous to your overall wellbeing. Left without treatment, tinnitus can lead to depression, anxiety and social isolation.
Tinnitus does not have to dramatically affect your quality of life. Try to avoid focusing too much attention on your tinnitus and take steps to manage the condition. Avoid excessive noise, and find relaxation and stress management techniques that work for you.
Fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers and air conditioners in the bedroom also produce white noise and may help make tinnitus less noticeable at night. Masking devices. Worn in the ear and similar to hearing aids, these devices produce a continuous, low-level white noise that suppresses tinnitus symptoms.
You should see your GP if you continually or regularly hear sounds such as buzzing, ringing or humming in your ears. They can examine your ears to see if the problem might be caused by a condition they could easily treat, such as an ear infection or earwax build-up.
What does the research say? Serum magnesium levels are lower in people with tinnitus than the general population[3]. Increased susceptibility to noise damage, ototoxicity and auditory hyperexcitability have also been linked to magnesium deficiency[4].
There is no cure for tinnitus. However, treating an underlying cause (such as vitamin B12 deficiency) may help relieve tinnitus symptoms. Other possible treatment options include: Acoustic therapy or sound therapy.
Loud Noises
When you have tinnitus -- or ringing in your ears -- many things can make those sounds worse. One of the most obvious is noise. Loud sounds from things like machinery, headphones, and concerts can cause short-term ringing or permanent hearing loss. Do what you can to avoid it.
Anything you eat, drink, or do, that upsets the fluid level in the body can upset the fluid level in the ear and cause tinnitus. Keeping a moderate intake of caffeine, salt, and alcohol. Reducing your use of tobacco. And staying hydrated by drinking water will help reduce the impact of tinnitus.
Although dehydration is not known to consistently cause tinnitus, both acute and chronic instances of inadequate dehydration can exacerbate tinnitus and lead to other issues that trigger tinnitus, including high blood pressure, damaged hearing health, and even ear infections, when stress levels spike.
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.
Traffic, loud music, construction – all of these can worsen tinnitus. Be sure to wear earplugs or another type of ear protection in order to prevent noise from making your tinnitus worse. Many medications are ototoxic, meaning they cause temporary (or, in some cases, permanent) damage to your hearing.
New research suggests that tinnitus (ringing in the ears) may be an early warning sign for both Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Pulsatile tinnitus is a debilitating symptom affecting millions of Americans and can be a harbinger of hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. Careful diagnostic evaluation of pulsatile tinnitus is critical in providing optimal care and guiding the appropriate treatment strategy.
Tinnitus has been shown to impair working memory.
Certain fruits are found to be particularly helpful when it comes to relieving tinnitus, especially foods that are rich in potassium. These include bananas, pears, and tropical fruits such as pineapples, papayas, and mangoes. These foods help lower the blood pressure and encourage proper blood circulation to the ears.