We all enjoy those moments of peace and quiet when we can totally relax and recharge our batteries. However, there is a growing number of people who never experience a moment of silence. For those who are suffering from tinnitus there is no such thing as peace and quiet.
What Exactly is Tinnitus?Tinnitus is a ringing, swishing, buzzing, whistling or other noise that seems to originate in your ears or head. This noise may be infrequent, intermittent or constant. It may seem to increase and decrease at various times or it may seem to grow louder over time.
People suffering from tinnitus can feel anxious, depressed and in some cases feel as though the noise is driving them completely crazy.
What Causes Tinnitus
There are any number of things that can cause tinnitus. As we get older our body does not function as well as it once did, this includes our inner ear which may suffer damage to the microscopic nerve endings resulting in our hearing noises that other people do not hear.
Being subjected to loud noises can also result in tinnitus somewhere down the line. Loud music, machinery and other noises such as lawn mowers can eventually cause tinnitus. Many hunters develop tinnitus from the loud gun blasts when they they are shooting.
Injuries or tumors to the head and neck area can also cause us to experience the ringing or buzzing sounds that accompany tinnitus. As can high blood pressure, stress and depression.
Medication can also cause tinnitus. Antibiotics, Quinine, diuretics and even the excess use of aspirin can all all bring on tinnitus. There are even some that believe that an excessive amount of vitamin E can bring on tinnitus or at least contribute to it as well as some diseases such as Meniere disease.
Even something as simple as ear wax build up can bring on tinnitus.
The truth is that there are probably causes for tinnitus that medical science have yet to discover.
Diagnosing the Cause
If you are experiencing symptoms of tinnitus it is important that you visit a health care professional to try and determine the cause of your tinnitus. Your physician will want a complete medical history and will ask a lot of questions. There will be a complete physical exam and there may be several tests performed to try and determine the exact cause of your tinnitus.
A hearing test will be performed and other tests may include: MRI, CAT scan and an auditory Brain Stem Response. These tests will help your doctor try and discover the exact cause of your tinnitus. However, keep in mind that in some cases the exact cause may never be discovered.
Treatment of Tinnitus
In far too many cases tinnitus cannot be cured. However, there are things that can be done to lessen the effects of tinnitus on your health and your life. The first thing you will be advised to do is to not dwell on your condition. Although this may seem impossible it has been proven that thinking about those noises you are hearing can actually make your tinnitus worse or at least seem worse than it actually is. Instead, try concentrating on things you can do to improve the situation. You can avoid loud noises. If you have to go somewhere where there is going to be a loud noise wear earplugs. People suffering from tinnitus are often more sensitive to loud noises, making that whistling or buzzing sound you are hearing louder.
You can control your blood pressure and reduce your salt intake as well as avoid stimulants such as tobacco and caffeine.
You will also need to reduce some of the effects that your tinnitus is causing by working to reduce your anxiety, depression and fatigue. While treating these side issues won’t cure your tinnitus, it will make you feel better physically and mentally which will give you a more positive outlook and help you deal with your tinnitus noise more effectively.
Using masking noises will also bring you some relief. Sometimes running water or even concentrating on the ticking of a clock helps a great deal bringing you relief from that constant sound in your head. While there is no known cure for tinnitus, you don’t have to allow it to ruin your life.