What is ringing ears?

Ringing ears or tinnitus is a situation whereby an individual experiences ringing or other noises in one or both ears which isn’t caused by an external sound and others can’t hear it.

It can also cause other types of phantom noises in your ears like buzzing, clicking, roaring, humming or hissing. In exceptional cases, tinnitus occur as a rhythmic pulsing or whooshing sound, often in time with the heartbeat and this is called pulsatile tinnitus.

The noises of tinnitus may vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal and In some cases, the sound can be so loud that it interferes with the ability to concentrate or hear external sound. Tinnitus may be present all the time, or it may come and go.

It is said that tinnitus is a common problem that affects about 15% to 20% of people, especially older adults. It can be 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.

A number of health conditions can cause or worsen tinnitus. In many cases, an exact cause is never found.

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. Other risk factors for tinnitus include temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), diabetes, thyroid problems, obesity, and head injury.

Hearing loss can result from damage to structures or nerve fibers in the inner ear that respond to sound. This type of hearing loss, termed “noise-induced hearing loss,” is usually caused by exposure to excessively loud sounds and cannot be medically or surgically corrected.

Some people aren’t bothered by tinnitus while it disrupts the daily lives of others and requires quick medical attention.

You need to see a doctor when you develop tinnitus after an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold, and your tinnitus doesn’t improve within a week, you have hearing loss or dizziness with the tinnitus, experience anxiety or depression as a result of tinnitus.

In many cases, tinnitus is the result of something that can’t be prevented. However, some precautions can help prevent certain kinds of tinnitus.

Use hearing protection.

Try to limit your exposure to loud sounds. Turn down the volume. Long-term exposure to amplified music with no ear protection or listening to music at very high volume through headphones can cause hearing loss and tinnitus.

Regular exercise, eating right and taking other steps to keep your blood vessels healthy can help prevent tinnitus linked to obesity and blood vessel disorders.

Limit alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.

 

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