Ringing in the ears (also known as tinnitus) is an unpleasant phenomenon, but it is not an independent pathology, but only a symptom of disorders in the body. They can be either serious or not so serious.
Ringing or noise in the ears is a very common problem that is sometimes difficult to deal with. In this case, a person hears noise or ringing, but this is not caused by any external sounds. It may appear as a long or short ringing sound, or as pulsating tinnitus that persists over time.
It can seriously affect a person's overall quality of life. Those who experience frequent ringing in their ears may find it difficult to concentrate, talk to other people, or even get a good night's sleep.
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Causes of ringing in the ears
In order to get rid of tinnitus, it is very important to find out its cause .
Among the most common causes of short-term manifestations of ringing in the ears:
- Exposure to loud noise.
- Colds, flu.
- Head injury.
- A sudden change in environmental conditions during travel to high altitudes.
Causes of prolonged or recurring tinnitus
- Ear infections – infections of the inner ear, acute or chronic otitis media.
- Foreign bodies or wax accumulation in the ear .
- Ear injury caused by loud noises.
- Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that is characterized by hearing loss, dizziness, and tinnitus.
- Alcohol, caffeine and certain drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics (eg, gentamicin, amikacin, etc.), aspirin, diuretics, cancer chemotherapy drugs, etc., especially in overdose.
- High blood pressure.
- Allergies.
- Anemia.
- Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis).
- Severe head trauma, whiplash, etc. d.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Brain tumors.
- Brain infections such as meningitis, syphilis, Lyme disease, etc.
- Tumor of the inner ear (acoustic neuroma).
- Deformation of a blood vessel in the inner ear.
- Dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (the joint connecting the lower jaw to the skull at the base of the ears) and dental diseases.
- Psychosocial stress.
- Taking medications. Although there is no medicine that can cure tinnitus, some medications can help manage severe symptoms by reducing the discomfort.
- Sound therapy, which involves masking the noise in ears with more pleasant sounds. External sounds change the perception of or response to tinnitus.
- Using hearing aidsfor tinnitus associated with hearing loss. Hearing aids equipped with sound therapy features are especially useful in this case.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)This is a form of behavioral therapy that effectively treats tinnitus by changing the patient's reaction to it. This treatment aims to reduce stress and improve quality of life by focusing on the mental and emotional aspects of tinnitus.
- Stress Management Techniques, such as meditation or yoga – these can reduce the severity of tinnitus by reducing stress levels. Staying calm and relaxed can help stop ringing.
- Protects your ears from further damage. To prevent tinnitus from getting worse, it is important to wear hearing protection in noisy environments. Special protective equipment provides comfort and effectively protects against harmful noise levels. Sound masking devices provide significant relief from tinnitus symptoms. White noise devices are popular; they produce a uniform, subtle sound that masks tinnitus. Another useful tool, especially for use at night, is a noise canceler with cushion speakers, which provides personal comfort without disturbing anyone else.
- Lifestyle Changeto mitigate the negative impact on daily life. These changes will not only relieve the symptom, but also improve your overall health. These include diet and exercise. Incorporating a healthy diet and regular exercise into your daily routine is very important. Exercise, in particular, plays an important role in the prevention of tinnitus by helping to cope with the stress that often triggers this condition.
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If you experience hearing loss in one ear, difficulty understanding speech, and dizziness, you may develop an acoustic neuroma, which is also known as a vestibular schwannoma.
Sometimes tinnitus can occur without any reason, and then it is called “idiopathic tinnitus.”
How to get rid of tinnitus
Tinnitus can be managed using various methods, although most often this symptom is chronic, but its occurrence can be reduced to a minimum.
The approach to treating tinnitus is aimed primarily at identifying and eliminating the underlying cause. Strategies include:
Although no one approach guarantees a complete cure for tinnitus , a combination of treatment methods can alleviate symptoms and effectively stop them.
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It is important to remember that tinnitus is most often a chronic condition. And treatment, as a rule, does not help instantly and may not get rid of it forever. Immediate relief may be tempting, but the real benefit comes from a consistent approach. It is important to adopt long-term treatment strategies – making treatments part of your daily habits. This will help manage the condition in the long term.
What to avoid
Some medications
Some medications may make symptoms worse. This includes some over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription medications. It is important to consult with your doctor about which medications to avoid.
Activities and environment
To cope with tinnitus, it is important to avoid loud noises. It is especially important to avoid exposure to loud sounds in areas with high noise levels. Prolonged exposure to noise can cause serious ear damage and worsen symptoms.