Have you ever experienced ringing sounds or noises in your ears even in the absence of physical noise? Well, you could be experiencing tinnitus. Although common, tinnitus can be frustrating for some people, especially when the sounds affect one’s everyday life.
Read on to learn more about tinnitus and how it occurs.
Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, whistling, or roaring sound in one or both ears. This unpleasant noise in your ears can be intermittent or continuous and it can occur in one or both ears. The loudness can also vary from soft or loud to low pitched or high pitched.
Research indicates that approximately 50 million people in the USA have experienced tinnitus. It is a common condition and mostly affects individuals over 55 years of age.
Nevertheless, almost everyone has had this symptom at some point in their lives, especially after exposure to extremely loud music. This is because it damages the stereocilia in your ears, which are little hairs that sense the air oscillations that your ears convert into sound.
The tinnitus symptoms can vary from one person to another, getting louder at night for some. Also, some people can get mild tinnitus, which is a minor irritation that comes and go. On the other hand, other people can suffer from chronic tinnitus, where the ringing gets loud enough to impact their everyday life.
Types of Tinnitus
Tinnitus can be categorized into two types: subjective tinnitus and objective tinnitus.
Subjective Tinnitus
This is the most common type of tinnitus, where the noise produced in your ears can only be heard by you.
Objective Tinnitus
With this type of tinnitus, other people can hear the noise as well, particularly the person examining the condition. This type of tinnitus is uncommon and can be caused by several factors. This includes increased blood flow in the ear, blood vessels abnormalities, and spasms that occur in the middle ear tiny muscles.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Unlike what some people may believe, tinnitus is not a disease by itself. Instead, it is a symptom of an issue in the auditory system. This could mean an issue with the ears, the auditory nerve, or parts of the brain tasked with processing sound.
A common cause for tinnitus is loud music. When one is exposed to extremely high music like in concerts, chances of getting short-lived tinnitus are high. Also, medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory can cause tinnitus, which then disappears once the drug is discontinued.
Other possible causes of tinnitus include:
- Earwax buildup blocking the ear canal
- Infections in the ear and sinus
- Hearing loss due to loud noise
- Brain tumors
- Abnormalities in the thyroid
- Hormonal changes in women
- Meniere’s condition (where the ear duct swells)
- Eardrum fluid buildup
- Extreme trauma or stress
- Issues of the heart, neck, blood vessels, and teeth or jaw
If the tinnitus is continuous, it is highly recommended to consult with a doctor. After examining your ears, an experienced doctor can identify the cause of the condition and treat it accordingly. This is also true if the condition is sudden, occurs in one year, or you have pulsatile tinnitus that sounds more like a heartbeat.
Risk Factors of Tinnitus
As seen above, there are several causes of tinnitus. However, several risk factors are more likely to increase your risk of getting it. They include:
Loud Noise Exposure
Individuals that work in noisy environments like factories for a long time are likely to develop noise-induced hearing loss. This is usually associated with tinnitus.
Age
Generally, people of all ages can get tinnitus, but it is more common in seniors. The ear has nerve fibers that can decline in functionality when one age. For this reason, individuals above 55 years are more prone to develop tinnitus.
Stress and Fatigue
Although not yet clear to researchers, stress, and fatigue are also believed to increase the risk of tinnitus.
Alcohol and Tobacco Use
Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco can worsen tinnitus.
Gender
Men are more susceptible to experiencing tinnitus than women.
Health Conditions
Certain health conditions like cardiovascular disease, obesity, arthritis, head injury, and high blood pressure can increase your risk of tinnitus.
Effects of Tinnitus
In some people, tinnitus can be a minor irritation that comes and go. However, it can affect the normal life activities of some people. Some common effects of tinnitus include:>/p>
- Depression or anxiety attacks
- Insomnia
- Poor concentration
- Frustration and irritability
- Tension
- Headaches
- Regular mood swings
- Thoughts of suicide ( in the early stages)
- Memory problems
- Fatigue
- Problems with work and family life
How to Manage Tinnitus
Tinnitus is treatable when your doctor determines the underlying cause. Besides treating it, tinnitus is also manageable. Here are some effective strategies for managing tinnitus.
- Keep healthy and ensure your general wellbeing. This includes avoiding certain foods and beverages like alcohol that can aggregate tinnitus.
- Exercise regularly and take care of your cardiovascular health.
- Wear earplugs when in noisy environments but do not overuse them.
- Turn down the volume when listening to music, particularly through your earphones.
- Overcome your fears of developing tinnitus.
- Try to keep calm to prevent your tinnitus from getting worse.
Diagnosis for Tinnitus
Ideally, tinnitus can subside after 16 to 48 hours. However, if you experience regular tinnitus, it is recommended to set an appointment with your doctor to inspect your ear for damage. You should set an appointment as soon as possible if it is giving your anxiety, depression, or causing hearing loss.
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and whether there are medicines that you are taking. He will also do a hearing test, check inside your ears, and examine your head and neck. These tests should help them identify the cause and treat it. If not, then they can help you manage it better.
Conclusion
Generally, most people have experienced temporary or short times of tinnitus after exposure to loud music. If your tinnitus persists, it helps to consult a doctor and learn about the possible treatment methods.