People who browse pages about tinnitus over the internet want to learn the basic details. The causes of ringing in the ears have already been identified by specialists, and there is a broad range of conditions and disorders that bring about tinnitus. If you have been asking, look here.
1. Earwax impaction
Earwax is the natural production of the ear canal and it serves to line the surface of the canal with a layer of wax that protects the ears from infection by catching dirt and limiting the growth of microorganisms. But some people produce more earwax than others. The overproduction of earwax may lead to impaction and with this is blockage of the ear canal and the hearing pathway that causes hearing loss accompanied by tinnitus.
2. Ear infection
The connection is quite easy to comprehend. An infection may affect any part of the ears causing inflammation and swelling, which lead to conductive hearing loss. Fluid may accumulate in the middle air as a result of failure of proper drainage. Antibiotics cure bacterial infections. Once the infection is cleared, the associated tinnitus goes away.
3. Ototoxic drugs
Ototoxic drugs are prescription and non-prescription medicines that have adverse effects to the hearing. Over two hundred medicines have components that harm the ears. Hence, if you are particularly sensitive to side effects of medications, check the labels of each that you take. You may also consult your doctor to ask for safer alternatives. The common ototoxic drugs are aspirin, ibuprofen, antihistamines, and some antibiotics.
4. Noise trauma
The causes of ringing in the ears may be stereos, iPods, mp4’s, or DVD players played at extreme volumes. Loud sound damages the hearing and one should watch over the over-all volume at home or in the working area. The susceptibility to damage depends on the loudness of sound one is exposed to and the length of exposure.
5. Deafness
Hearing loss accompanies tinnitus. In fact, many cases of tinnitus are associated with hearing loss. Hearing impairment may be due to loud noise, ear drum perforation, or old age. Once external hearing is lost, the brain tends to switch to the internal noise to compensate with the loss of auditory sensation.
6. Injuries of the head and neck
You may not know this but if you have experience a blow in the head, the arteries or capillaries near the ears may be affected leading to disruption of blood flow and ear function and it can be pinpointed as what causes ringing in the ears.
While you may keep guessing which among the many causes of ringing in the ears might have caused your malady, it is wise if you seek professional medical help. Self diagnosis is never a good option.
Showing posts with label ear ringing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ear ringing. Show all posts
August 06, 2009
July 27, 2009
The Medical Society and Tinnitus Alternative Treatments
There are a lot of ways to treat tinnitus. One is through tinnitus alternative treatments. Although a number of doctors are dubious about alternative treatment for disorders like tinnitus, many believe that alternative medicine is the answer to some ailments which conventional scientific medicine could not do anything about.
The doubts are due to the fact that alternative medicine has not gone through rigid scientific research to determine the extent of effectiveness and safety. The reason that there is hardly any study done on alternative cures is the inadequate funding and the remaining skepticism on the part of many western physicians. In addition, conventional medicine could be well endangered if alternative medicine is lifted to unanimous approval by the western medical societies.
Nonetheless, in the recent years, we have observed an increasing number of people who are becoming unhappy with the medicines they find in pharmacies and drugstores. This occurrence shifted the public’s attention towards looking for alternative cures. The lack of study in this rising field is compensated by a significant number of people testifying about its effectiveness. Several people turn to alternative cures in instances when conventional medicine fails.
Scientific medicine offers no cure for tinnitus. Physicians would recommend tinnitus maskers, anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapies, and retraining therapies. However these procedures do not serve as cures for tinnitus. Instead, they merely help people cope with the condition. This prompted people to look for tinnitus alternative treatments.
Today, alternative therapies include acupuncture, chiropractic massage, hypnosis, and yoga. Alternative cures may also be in form of herbal and homeopathic preparations, which are also sold in the market in form of tablets and capsules people can readily take. Although both are often mistaken as the same, herbal treatment is different from homeopathy. According to many patients these natural remedies have helped them feel better and there are testimonies about full recovery after prolonged use. However some medical communities regard these claims as purely anecdotal. Vitamin and mineral supplements for tinnitus include vitamin B complex, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C. Some experts believe that tinnitus and other hearing defects may be due to nutritional imbalance or deficiencies.
The negative opinion and doubts of some scientific and medical sectors towards alternative medicines are expected to linger for a longer while. Perhaps these remedies have proved their resilience over the years of inquiry and skepticism. Tinnitus alternative treatments, for instance, would still be around. Even though there is no concrete evidence that they work againsts symptoms of ringing in ears, there is no evidence either that they do not.
The doubts are due to the fact that alternative medicine has not gone through rigid scientific research to determine the extent of effectiveness and safety. The reason that there is hardly any study done on alternative cures is the inadequate funding and the remaining skepticism on the part of many western physicians. In addition, conventional medicine could be well endangered if alternative medicine is lifted to unanimous approval by the western medical societies.
Nonetheless, in the recent years, we have observed an increasing number of people who are becoming unhappy with the medicines they find in pharmacies and drugstores. This occurrence shifted the public’s attention towards looking for alternative cures. The lack of study in this rising field is compensated by a significant number of people testifying about its effectiveness. Several people turn to alternative cures in instances when conventional medicine fails.
Scientific medicine offers no cure for tinnitus. Physicians would recommend tinnitus maskers, anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapies, and retraining therapies. However these procedures do not serve as cures for tinnitus. Instead, they merely help people cope with the condition. This prompted people to look for tinnitus alternative treatments.
Today, alternative therapies include acupuncture, chiropractic massage, hypnosis, and yoga. Alternative cures may also be in form of herbal and homeopathic preparations, which are also sold in the market in form of tablets and capsules people can readily take. Although both are often mistaken as the same, herbal treatment is different from homeopathy. According to many patients these natural remedies have helped them feel better and there are testimonies about full recovery after prolonged use. However some medical communities regard these claims as purely anecdotal. Vitamin and mineral supplements for tinnitus include vitamin B complex, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C. Some experts believe that tinnitus and other hearing defects may be due to nutritional imbalance or deficiencies.
The negative opinion and doubts of some scientific and medical sectors towards alternative medicines are expected to linger for a longer while. Perhaps these remedies have proved their resilience over the years of inquiry and skepticism. Tinnitus alternative treatments, for instance, would still be around. Even though there is no concrete evidence that they work againsts symptoms of ringing in ears, there is no evidence either that they do not.
July 20, 2009
Tinnitus Treatments
It can be safely stated that tinnitus is, to some extent, a prevalent medical condition in the US, wherein 45 in every 1000 Americans are affected. This data is reported in the National Health Interview Service of 1995. With this figure, there are approximately 12 million Americans who suffer from ear ringing and a good number of them are looking, if not quite desperately, for effective tinnitus treatments.
Helpful tinnitus treatments are those which are able to deal with the root cause of the problem. Most of the time tinnitus is linked to psychological problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression. In these cases, applied relaxation is an approach worth considering. A four-step relaxation technique adapted from Ost (1987) which allows the tinnitus sufferer to rest, reduce tension in the muscles, and boost general well-being.
Step one. Progressive Relaxation – In this step, you learn to distinguish the difference between tensed and relaxed muscles. You learn to be aware of your body and not achieve a perfectly relaxed state. Do your exercise twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not attempt to do your exercise in a hurry if you feel you do not have enough time to perform it.
Step two. Short Progressive Relaxation – You will learn to decrease the time you need to achieve a relaxed state in this second step of the technique. This step also initiates some imagery techniques. Quite different from step one, here you are to learn to relax without tensing the muscles first. The recommended time for this exercise is from five to seven minutes but you are free to set up your own pace.
Step three. Cue-controlled relaxation (controlled breathing) – In the third step, you will learn to associate your cue word to a given breathing pattern. With proper practice, relaxing as prompted by your cue word will become automatic. You have to learn to fill your lungs fully by breathing from your abdomen. This step will help you relax and control your breathing in two to four minutes using your cue word.
Step four. Rapid relaxation – The final step is further divided in two sessions. There are two goals for this step: one is for you to be able to relax in non-stressful situations and to decrease the time for you to relax in 30 to 60 seconds. It is important to note that there are stress causing tinnitus factors.
This technique will help you relax and tolerate your ringing in the ears. However, there are also other more proactive tinnitus treatments if you have a severe case of tinnitus. Before you take any measures to deal with your ear ringing you have to seek medical advice. An appointed with your ENT should be scheduled as soon as possible.
Helpful tinnitus treatments are those which are able to deal with the root cause of the problem. Most of the time tinnitus is linked to psychological problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression. In these cases, applied relaxation is an approach worth considering. A four-step relaxation technique adapted from Ost (1987) which allows the tinnitus sufferer to rest, reduce tension in the muscles, and boost general well-being.
Step one. Progressive Relaxation – In this step, you learn to distinguish the difference between tensed and relaxed muscles. You learn to be aware of your body and not achieve a perfectly relaxed state. Do your exercise twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not attempt to do your exercise in a hurry if you feel you do not have enough time to perform it.
Step two. Short Progressive Relaxation – You will learn to decrease the time you need to achieve a relaxed state in this second step of the technique. This step also initiates some imagery techniques. Quite different from step one, here you are to learn to relax without tensing the muscles first. The recommended time for this exercise is from five to seven minutes but you are free to set up your own pace.
Step three. Cue-controlled relaxation (controlled breathing) – In the third step, you will learn to associate your cue word to a given breathing pattern. With proper practice, relaxing as prompted by your cue word will become automatic. You have to learn to fill your lungs fully by breathing from your abdomen. This step will help you relax and control your breathing in two to four minutes using your cue word.
Step four. Rapid relaxation – The final step is further divided in two sessions. There are two goals for this step: one is for you to be able to relax in non-stressful situations and to decrease the time for you to relax in 30 to 60 seconds. It is important to note that there are stress causing tinnitus factors.
This technique will help you relax and tolerate your ringing in the ears. However, there are also other more proactive tinnitus treatments if you have a severe case of tinnitus. Before you take any measures to deal with your ear ringing you have to seek medical advice. An appointed with your ENT should be scheduled as soon as possible.
July 13, 2009
Drugs that Cause Tinnitus
With the millions of tinnitus cases from all over the world, majority of us are still at a lost as to what are the most possible causes of this condition. Since it is a condition which deeply bothers the person having it, then it is best to become familiar with its causes and avoid it by all means. One of the not so famous are drugs that cause tinnitus. It would then be good to have a worldwide awareness campaign.
Taking pills to alleviate us of whatever health condition we may possibly have is a normal thing to do. Whether they are over the counter or prescription drugs, we take them with the hope that these medicines will take care of things and eventually make us feel better. However, these drugs also have side effects. Some side effects are mild and nothing that should really cause any bothers to you, but there are also side effects that you must be aware of and keep an eye on. Ringing in the ears is one of the possible side effects that are commonly brought about by drugs that cause tinnitus.
Among the identified medications that can possibly cause a ringing in the ear or referred to as ototoxic are NSAIDS (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. These types of medications are available over the counter and are usually taken to relieve conditions like the common colds and headaches. Examples are aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. The reason as to why they may cause hearing loss and eventually tinnitus are somewhat vague but it has been suspected that the anti-platelet property of such drugs cause the problem. Aspirin is said to be the most notorious as it contains salicylates and salicylic acid.
Some other identified drugs that can worsen or cause a ringing in the ears are sedatives, antidepressants, antibiotics, medication for cancer, and antihistamines. Proper information must be given by prescribing doctors and pharmacists that release these drugs to patients who use them so that precautionary measures may be undertaken and the problem of acquiring a ringing in the ears be prevented.
The question now is whether to continue taking these medicines or not. If you stop taking them then the tendency is you won’t get well, while if you continue to take them there is a tendency to develop a ringing in the ears. If you are concerned with developing tinnitus, tell your doctor about it and they will prescribe an alternative medication. It should also be noted that tinnitus usually develops when taking high dosages of the mentioned drugs and when they are used for a prolonged period.
Drugs that cause tinnitus can be easily avoided. All it takes is getting the right information and exercising all precautionary measures. In time, the population of people affected with ear ringing will decline and hopefully everybody gets to live a good quality of life without problems of ringing in the ears.
Taking pills to alleviate us of whatever health condition we may possibly have is a normal thing to do. Whether they are over the counter or prescription drugs, we take them with the hope that these medicines will take care of things and eventually make us feel better. However, these drugs also have side effects. Some side effects are mild and nothing that should really cause any bothers to you, but there are also side effects that you must be aware of and keep an eye on. Ringing in the ears is one of the possible side effects that are commonly brought about by drugs that cause tinnitus.
Among the identified medications that can possibly cause a ringing in the ear or referred to as ototoxic are NSAIDS (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. These types of medications are available over the counter and are usually taken to relieve conditions like the common colds and headaches. Examples are aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. The reason as to why they may cause hearing loss and eventually tinnitus are somewhat vague but it has been suspected that the anti-platelet property of such drugs cause the problem. Aspirin is said to be the most notorious as it contains salicylates and salicylic acid.
Some other identified drugs that can worsen or cause a ringing in the ears are sedatives, antidepressants, antibiotics, medication for cancer, and antihistamines. Proper information must be given by prescribing doctors and pharmacists that release these drugs to patients who use them so that precautionary measures may be undertaken and the problem of acquiring a ringing in the ears be prevented.
The question now is whether to continue taking these medicines or not. If you stop taking them then the tendency is you won’t get well, while if you continue to take them there is a tendency to develop a ringing in the ears. If you are concerned with developing tinnitus, tell your doctor about it and they will prescribe an alternative medication. It should also be noted that tinnitus usually develops when taking high dosages of the mentioned drugs and when they are used for a prolonged period.
Drugs that cause tinnitus can be easily avoided. All it takes is getting the right information and exercising all precautionary measures. In time, the population of people affected with ear ringing will decline and hopefully everybody gets to live a good quality of life without problems of ringing in the ears.
February 06, 2009
Pulsatile Tinnitus
There are different kinds of tinnitus. Some differ in the way they sound and also in the way they are caused and treated. One of the not so common types is Pulsatile tinnitus.
From the name itself, pulsatile tinnitus differs in a way that the sound you can hear in your ear is that of a beating or a pulsing sound. Instead of the usual ringing sound, you have that sensation of being able to hear your heart beating.
Fortunately, a rather wide range of this kind of tinnitus can be cured or treated. Once the main cause is figured out, the corresponding treatment for tinnitus can then in turn cure the tinnitus.
There are many possible causes of this kind of ear ringing. Among them is hypertension, heart murmur, glomus tumor, Eustachian tube disorder or abnormality of a vein or artery. As you may have noticed, all of which have something to do with the heart or the amount of blood flow in your body.
Most of the time, this kind of tinnitus occurs when there is ear infection. Once your ear gets irritated and is suffering from infection, then the inner ear inflames. The inner ear is usually filled with air. But once inflamed, the Eustachian tube malfunctions. Certain veins that are located near your ear or on your neck are then situated closer to your auditory nerve. Together with the inflammation and increased blood flow, you will then get to experience hearing your pulse or the rush of the flow of your blood.
Medications that treat the ear infection help eliminate the inflammation which then in turn lessens the pulsating ear ringing.
Be conscious that our auditory nerves are probably the most sensitive and delicate parts of our body. Thus it is important that delicate care should be considered in treating pulsatile tinnitus and any other ear disorder. Consult your physician or ENT for further information.
From the name itself, pulsatile tinnitus differs in a way that the sound you can hear in your ear is that of a beating or a pulsing sound. Instead of the usual ringing sound, you have that sensation of being able to hear your heart beating.
Fortunately, a rather wide range of this kind of tinnitus can be cured or treated. Once the main cause is figured out, the corresponding treatment for tinnitus can then in turn cure the tinnitus.
There are many possible causes of this kind of ear ringing. Among them is hypertension, heart murmur, glomus tumor, Eustachian tube disorder or abnormality of a vein or artery. As you may have noticed, all of which have something to do with the heart or the amount of blood flow in your body.
Most of the time, this kind of tinnitus occurs when there is ear infection. Once your ear gets irritated and is suffering from infection, then the inner ear inflames. The inner ear is usually filled with air. But once inflamed, the Eustachian tube malfunctions. Certain veins that are located near your ear or on your neck are then situated closer to your auditory nerve. Together with the inflammation and increased blood flow, you will then get to experience hearing your pulse or the rush of the flow of your blood.
Medications that treat the ear infection help eliminate the inflammation which then in turn lessens the pulsating ear ringing.
Be conscious that our auditory nerves are probably the most sensitive and delicate parts of our body. Thus it is important that delicate care should be considered in treating pulsatile tinnitus and any other ear disorder. Consult your physician or ENT for further information.
February 02, 2009
Ringing in Ears
Do you experience hearing a ringing in ears? If you do, then you probably have this medical condition known as tinnitus. This condition makes you hear a ringing noise but you cannot pinpoint where the source of the noise is coming from. It can bother you occasionally or constantly. In fact, it can affect you any time of the day, even as you try to get some rest or sleep.
No amount of pressure applied to the ears or opening and closing your mouth (which is the normal reaction of people) can lessen the noise or eliminate it. People often wonder how a person can hear a ringing in ears but the noise does not have a source.
The explanation to this is because that noise is being created by the nerve impulses of our brain every time it fails to receive active sound signals from the ears which the brain itself needs to interpret. This makes it difficult to manage the volume of the noise since it comes from within our system.
There is no need to panic however as this does not necessarily mean you will be doomed forever. There are ways to eliminate the ear ringing and ways to minimize the noise, as well as there are also factors which can trigger the noise and aggravate the noise.
Tinnitus is one of those conditions which will only get worse the more you give attention to it. As you continue to listen to every noisy ear ringing that you hear, the louder it will get. On the other hand, if you learn to ignore the noise and just continue doing whatever you need to do, you will be amazed that in time you will be able to ignore the noise. This is what they usually do with one type of treatment known as tinnitus retraining therapy.
Even if ringing in ears cannot harm you seriously, it is still best to consult with your physician and have your condition diagnosed. It is a lot better to know what caused the symptom for proper treatment to be carried out.
No amount of pressure applied to the ears or opening and closing your mouth (which is the normal reaction of people) can lessen the noise or eliminate it. People often wonder how a person can hear a ringing in ears but the noise does not have a source.
The explanation to this is because that noise is being created by the nerve impulses of our brain every time it fails to receive active sound signals from the ears which the brain itself needs to interpret. This makes it difficult to manage the volume of the noise since it comes from within our system.
There is no need to panic however as this does not necessarily mean you will be doomed forever. There are ways to eliminate the ear ringing and ways to minimize the noise, as well as there are also factors which can trigger the noise and aggravate the noise.
Tinnitus is one of those conditions which will only get worse the more you give attention to it. As you continue to listen to every noisy ear ringing that you hear, the louder it will get. On the other hand, if you learn to ignore the noise and just continue doing whatever you need to do, you will be amazed that in time you will be able to ignore the noise. This is what they usually do with one type of treatment known as tinnitus retraining therapy.
Even if ringing in ears cannot harm you seriously, it is still best to consult with your physician and have your condition diagnosed. It is a lot better to know what caused the symptom for proper treatment to be carried out.
December 03, 2006
Ear Ringing Tinnitus
John Currie discusses ear ringing from tinnitus. Also discussed is objective tinnitus and subjective tinnitus.
| |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)