16
Mar
2012

Tinnitus: Stop the Buzz!

Tinnitus is a condition which involves continuous or sporadic ringing in a single or both ears. The particular sound one hears might not be “ringing”, but it may be a buzzing, crackling, hissing, or chirping noise and the severe nature of the problem can go from annoying to acutely painful.

There are lots of reasons for tinnitus and much more continue to be being discovered in these days. Some main causes are, obviously, contact with loud noises, allergies, poor blood supply, and head/neck traumatization. Ingesting medications like aspirin, anti-depressants, antibiotics, and sedatives are also known to effect a result of tinnitus. Also avoid caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and sugar.

When you have tinnitus, you aren’t alone. Over fifty million (50, 000, 000) us citizens alone have already been diagnose with tinnitus. Currently you will find no known cures for tinnitus, but there’s research constantly being conducted. The good thing is that, even with no cure, you will find methods to stop tinnitus from occurring so usually and ensure that, when it will happen, it is simply at a hardly noticeable pitch. You will find currently a variety of therapies that can be done to alleviate the disquiet, natural treatments, like certain herbs and vitamins, and several other great ideas to help lessen the intensity. Remember that not absolutely all methods works exactly the same for every individual, but with just a little persistence you are able to absolutely find a minumum of one, or even more, method that will help tone down that noise in your mind.

Several suggestions to greatly help stop tinnitus are the following:

  • Sound Therapy is conducted by utilizing “white noise” to block out the tinnitus. You can begin with a noise of one’s choice (rain, ocean waves, chants, and so on). and sit for 30-60 minutes each day. This can also be a terrific way to, not just stop tinnitus, but additionally unwind from the hectic day.
  • TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy) – This can be a chance for you yourself to take a seat by having an actual tinnitus specialist which could answer every questions you might have. Normally, this is an extremely costly method to solve your tinnitus issues. This specialist will even coach you and demonstrate how exactly to direct your attention in order to drown out your tinnitus when it first starts.

Some vitamins and herbs that also help stop tinnitus are vitamin A, vitamin C, ginkgo biloba, potassium, and zinc. These help the blood circulation during your human body, which poor blood supply has been considered to be a significant element in tinnitus.

Source: American Tinnitus Association

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14
Mar
2012

Causes of Tinnitus

Causes of tinnitus can come from various different health problems. Many people classify tinnitus as a disease, but it is technically a condition. It is accurately recognized as a symptom when you have problems involving the auditory system. Tinnitus has been known for the sounds felt inside the ear that resembles ringing, hissing, or roaring. These sounds do not come from the external environment, but within the ears. The brain interprets the stimulus transmitted and returns it to the auditory system. Causes of tinnitus may include damage on the structure of the ear or another type of auditory condition.

There is a range of tinnitus noises that have been noted by a lot of experts. All of these can be associated with tinnitus. The sounds are different depending on the causes of tinnitus or what structure or area is damaged or involved. Sufferers have stated that the ringing, hissing, or buzzing, are the usual tinnitus sounds. Some may also experience roaring, beating, clicking, banging, or chirping.

When you identify the causes of tinnitus, there is a wide-range from loud sounds to drugs, to particular foods and stress related problems. If you deal with loud noise, it is known to be the most avertable cause of tinnitus. All you need to do is stay away from the exposure to loud noises. For tinnitus that is caused by drugs or medicine, you must seek help from your doctor.

Foods that you eat can be one of the causes of tinnitus. There are particular kinds of foods that can trigger the condition. Some foods may include, but are not limited to: chocolates, cheese, wines, and spices. Before you are going to eat something, it is best to check that the foods do not contain any of the mention ingredients. Make sure that the foods you are eating are fresh!!

There are also rare kinds of causes of tinnitus. These include hearing loss, stress, and allergies. However, the severity of the tinnitus depends on the person and how the condition affects him or her. To decrease the risk of tinnitus, avoid the causes of tinnitus listed above.

 

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12
Mar
2012

Ringing in the Ear: KT Tunstall

The 36-year-old award-winning singer/songwriter revealed to reporters she has been experiencing ringing in the ear symptoms for the past 3 years, the ringing in the ear she describes as “really frightening.”

It began when she attended a Spice Girls concert in 2008. Tunstall’s notoriety as an A-list pop singer earned her top-notch front row seats to the famed Spice Girls reunion. Unfortunately, being close to the stage also means being right in front of giant speakers, blasting out deafening decibels of noise. Following the concert, Tunstall began to hear a constant high-pitch whining noise in her left ear, a sound which is typically associated with tinnitus hearing damage.

At first, she hoped the ear buzzing would go away in a few days. “I didn’t know what it was and at first just hoped it would go away, but it didn’t and it started to drive me mad,” she said.

The relentless ringing in the ears began to interfere with Tunstall’s professional life. As a musician, Tunstall is expected to recognize variances in musical tones and pitches, a talent which is severely hampered by even minor hearing problems. Understanding that there is no long-term cure for tinnitus, she has learned to adjust to the background ear noise, hoping that it does not get louder.

KT is no stranger to hearing disorders; she has a young brother, Daniel, who was born deaf. She witnessed the challenges her brother faced in dealing with his disability and eventually overcoming it.

Tinnitus symptoms include constant ringing sounds in the ears, which are only heard by the tinnitus sufferer, and are not related to any actual outside noise. When asked to describe their tinnitus sounds, patients refer to them as buzzing, ringing, whooshing, clicking, screaming or hissing sounds. Duration, pitch and volume can vary by severity. Tinnitus causes are old age, noise-induced hearing loss, chronic ear infections, drug interaction and puncturing of the eardrum.

Today, KT Tunstall is one of many celebrities who support the Hear the World campaign. The Phonak-funded global initiative offers updated news on tinnitus treatments, hearing loss prevention and a wealth of multimedia events aimed at raising tinnitus and hearing loss awareness. Famous singer/photographer Bryan Adams has captured the images of celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, Josh Groban, Sting, Jude Law and Amy Winehouse on film, posing in the characteristic hand-to-ear Hear the World pose. Ringing in the ears can be very serious. If you think you are suffering from symptoms of tinnitus, such as ringing in the ears, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Photo Credit: MusicMp3

 

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9
Mar
2012

Tinnitus Question and Answer!

What is tinnitus, is it a common condition?

Tinnitus is often described as the presence of a phantom sound that one might perceive in the ears or head in the absence of a real external source of sound. Those with tinnitus often say it sounds like ringing, hissing, buzzing, or roaring within the ears or head.

Tinnitus is a condition that affects up to 50 million Americans, according to the American Tinnitus Association, and its prevalence increases with increasing age. For about 5% of the general population, tinnitus is significant enough to warrant a visit to an audiologist or physician.

What causes tinnitus?

For many, the exact cause of tinnitus cannot be determined. There are many medical and nonmedical factors that appear to cause tinnitus. Medical causes might include tumors, side effects from medications, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, ear disease, hypo and hyperthyroidism and Lyme disease. Some of the non-medical causes include stress ad effects from alcohol and nicotine and noise exposure.

Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom. A common cause of tinnitus is inner ear hair cell damage. This hair cell damage leads to the release of random electrical impulses in the brain, which, in turn, is perceived as tinnitus.

How is tinnitus treated? Does it require medical or surgical intervention?

There is no cure yet for tinnitus. A person who is experiencing tinnitus should see an audiologist, or their physician to ensure that their tinnitus is not the side effect of a medical condition. For a person who is bothered by tinnitus, the incessant sounds can lead to increased stress levels, sleep deprivation and the inability to concentrate. The goal of treatment is to eliminate these negative side effects by reducing one’s perception of the tinnitus. There is no known medical or surgical treatment for tinnitus. Treatment typically centers on cognitive and behavioral approaches, which focus on the patient’s reactions to their tinnitus and often incorporate some type of sound therapy.

Does tinnitus cause or lead to hearing loss? Can a hearing aid help?

Tinnitus and hearing loss are unrelated; however, there is a high correlation between those with hearing loss and tinnitus. Many individuals who have been exposed to excessively loud noise may suffer from both hearing loss and tinnitus.

Many who have hearing loss and tinnitus will appreciate the benefits that hearing aids may provide. For a person with hearing loss, hearing aids may reduce the negative effects of poor hearing and also reduce one’s awareness of their tinnitus.

Are there other devices that might help?

There are several types of sound-generating devices that can help with tinnitus. The ear-level device is worn much like a hearing aid. It delivers a soothing, low volume sound to the ear and may mask one’s awareness of their tinnitus.

There are also external devices, which present a low-volume appealing sound in an effort to reduce a person’s awareness of tinnitus. There are usually devices, which make sounds like a waterfall, fan, or fountain. These can be especially helpful at bedtime, given that many with tinnitus experience difficulty falling asleep.

 

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7
Mar
2012

Causes of Tinnitus: Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

There are many different causes of tinnitus, which tend to vary from one individual to the next. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) may be one of the causes of tinnitus. TMJ condition causes tension in the jaw. Tinnitus sufferers hear varying levels of ringing, buzzing, roaring, or clicking sounds in either one or both ears. Pitch and volume may be different according to the severity of inner ear damage. If TMJ is one of your causes of tinnitus, below are some tips to help your conditions!

There is no confirmed cure for tinnitus, but there are some exercises you can do to help release jaw tension and reduce some of the symptoms of tinnitus and TMJ.

  • Resisted Opening: Resisted opening is an exercise, which renews flexibility in the jaw joints and releases tension. Rest your chin on your palm while keeping your mouth closed. Slowly open your mouth by applying gentle pressure against your palm, and then close your mouth.
  • Midline Exercises: Midline exercises train your to open your jaw correctly and require some practice. Stand facing a mirror with your mouth closed. Focusing on your jaw line, slowly open your mouth while keeping your bottom teeth in line with your tip row of teeth. Resist the impulse to slide your jaw in either direction sideways. Close mouth.
  • Massage: Some gentle massage exercises like stretching your jaw muscles or rubbing the point where your upper and lower jaws connect are beneficial for releasing jaw tension.
  • Aerobic Exercise: According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention adults and senior citizens need at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week for maximum health and relieving symptoms of tinnitus and TMJ.
  • Strengthening Exercises: A good jaw strengthening exercise may relieve TMJ symptoms and tinnitus. Place your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Using your index finger, apply pressure to the jawbone for 2 seconds with out moving the jaw. Repeat on the other side of the jaw.

Above are some great tips on how to relieve tinnitus and TMJ, which is one of the causes of tinnitus. If TMJ is not one of the causes of you tinnitus, talk to your doctor about what you can do for relief. Remember, the causes of tinnitus vary depending on the individual!

 

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5
Mar
2012

Treatment for Tinnitus: The Natural Way

When it comes to treatment for tinnitus, natural treatments for tinnitus are often highly recommended. There are a lot of other treatments said to help tinnitus, but treatment for tinnitus the natural way is very popular and preferred by patients. Below are some reasons why patients love this type of treatment for tinnitus.

  1. Safe: Natural treatments for tinnitus are generally safe to be taken in the body because they may not have the same side effects as some synthetic medications. Synthetic drugs and medicines usually state in their labels that they cannot be taken in some circumstances, etc.
  2. Cheaper: Natural treatments for tinnitus can be cheaper than synthetic medications and other methods like therapies and surgeries. This could be due to the lack of need for high cost equipment and/or ingredients.  Natural treatments only use natural methods and natural things that you can easily apply without spending additional money and by using items you may already have available in your home.
  3. Effective: Natural treatments have also shown to be effective in the treatment for tinnitus. As a matter of fact, in some cases, these natural treatments can be even gentler and more effective. Other methods and treatments may also prove effective, but they are not as highly recommended as natural treatments because of safety issues.
  4. Less complicated: Natural treatments are easy to apply. You won’t feel like you are actually trying to treat a certain condition. Unlike other treatments, natural treatments won’t make you feel like you are a patient. This kind of treatment is a lot more convenient because there is no pain felt during the treatment process.

There are various natural treatments for tinnitus and this includes herbs, vitamins, and minerals, water and other activities that are easy to do and effective in keeping your body healthy and well taken care of. Treating your tinnitus naturally may also require you to mind your diet and your lifestyle as well as keeping yourself stress-free! Natural treatment for tinnitus is highly recommended for sufferers.

 

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2
Mar
2012

To simply put it, if you hear ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, whistling or hissing sounds when no such sounds are present or heard by others around you then you are experiencing tinnitus. These sounds are unique to you and become very bothersome.

Tinnitus may occur in one ear or in both ears. Sometimes tinnitus is a symptom of hearing loss sometime it has no effect in losing hearing. Most of all tinnitus is a fairly common problem and exist worldwide. The severity differs from person to person. 1 out of 3 adults worldwide have experienced some form of tinnitus at some time in their life.

In the United States 12 million people routinely suffer from tinnitus. That is 1 out of every 22 Americans. These numbers are consistent with the rest of the world as about 4.5% of the worlds population suffers from tinnitus. Take a look at how many people suffer from tinnitus in other popular countries.

In Russia 6,479,000 people routinely suffer from tinnitus

In Japan 5,730,000 people routinely suffer from tinnitus

In Germany 3,700,100 people routinely suffer from tinnitus

In France 2,720,000 people routinely suffer from tinnitus

In United Kingdom 2,700,000 people routinely suffer from tinnitus

In South Africa 2,000,000 people routinely suffer from tinnitus

In Netherlands 734,000 Routinely suffer from Tinnitus

No wonder there are so many different methods for tinnitus relief. It does not matter what part of the world you reside 1 out every 22 people currently are suffering from tinnitus. This is a common problem but there is not a common treatment for tinnitus relief.

What works for some may or may not works for others. Many different treatments exist and most once learned can be done at home. The purpose of this site is not to sell out one particular form of tinnitus relief but expose you to several different forms of tinnitus relief. Below are descriptions of 5 tinnitus relief treatments. It is important that you review all treatments that are available and select one that you feel comfortable and suits your needs and conditions.

Source: Healthy Living

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29
Feb
2012

Tinnitus: Tips, Tricks, and Advice!

If you have been diagnosed with tinnitus, be sure to mention it to your doctor if he or she doesn’t already know. Medications prescribed for other conditions can have adverse effects on your tinnitus. Your doctor needs to know about your condition in order to avoid prescribing an inappropriate medication.

Meditation offers relief for many that suffer from tinnitus. Meditating is popular because it helps relax the mind as well as the body. It provides the brain with some training on focus and eliminates the day-to-day distractions we all face. Training the mind in this way can help those with tinnitus concentrate on other things so that they can sleep.

Your tinnitus may get so bad that it makes you feel like you’re going to go crazy. Constant background noise can help drown out the noise caused by tinnitus to help you sleep, concentrate, and relax.

If you have tinnitus you must be sure to get enough rest each day. Don’t let your life run you down and exhaust you. Your symptoms of tinnitus are going to be more severe if you do not make sure that you get eight hours of sleep each night and maybe even a short nap during the day.

You must get advice from your physician if you want to try homeopathic treatments for tinnitus. To protect your own health, you should never take a supplement unless it was recommended b a licensed healthcare professional. Tinnitus may be caused by an underlying medical condition, so see your doctor first.

You can get new ideas for managing tinnitus symptoms by talking to other sufferers. Listen to podcasts and read books and blogs on the topic. It may also be beneficial to find an online forum where you can learn how other sufferers manage the condition.

Change in your diet may help ease symptoms of tinnitus as well. Most nutritionists recommend removing salt and caffeine from your diet, and some have found luck with removing artificial sweeteners as well. Some tinnitus sufferers report successfully reducing their symptoms by eliminating these sweeteners, which are found in gum and diet soda, from their diets.

Having the TV or radio on softly, while working, could seem distracting, but it can mask the ringing sounds of tinnitus and become and effective coping strategy. Something like soft music or some TV can help drown out the obnoxious noise that you’re hearing from the tinnitus, and thus help you concentrate on the work at hand.

A soothing massage can relax your entire body, reduce your blood pressure, and put your tinnitus to rest. The massage can lower the pressure used by your heart to move blood through your body as you relax. You may experience diminished symptoms because the blood going through your system is not as pressurized.

There are many people that suffer from tinnitus, but they suffer from the condition for many different reasons. Tinnitus is treatable in many instances. Due to the fact that each person is different, what works for one might not work for another. Talk to your doctor about using the suggestions above as a part of your treatment for tinnitus.

 

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27
Feb
2012

Causes of Tinnitus: Ototoxic Medications

There are many causes of tinnitus, but the most common is ear damage, from either loud noises or ototoxic medications. Antibiotics, painkillers, and antidepressants may all be causes of tinnitus. If you experience constant tinnitus sounds like ringing of the ears, buzzing noises, whooshing, clicking, chirping, or static-like sounds, then you might be suffering from toxic reaction to one of many drugs linked with tinnitus. Below are some drugs that are causes of tinnitus.

Anesthetics (painkillers, analgesics, sedatives)

  • Bupivacain
  • Lidocaine (Novacaine)
  • Tetracain

Antibiotics

  • Aminoglycosides
  • Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
  • Minocycline (Minocin)
  • Sulfonamides (Septra, Bactrim)
  • Vancomycin (Vancocin)

Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)

  • Aspirin
  • Acematacine
  • Diclofenac (Voltaren)
  • Diflunisal (Dolobid)
  • Fenoprofen
  • Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin)
  • Indomethacin (Indocin)
  • Methyl salicylates (BenGay)
  • Naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve)
  • D-Penicilliamin
  • Phenylbutazone (Butazolidine)

Psychopharmacologic Medications

  • Tranquilizers
  • Antidepressants
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Lithium
  • Moban (molindone hydrochloride tablets)

The drugs listed above, are only some of the drugs that may be a cause of tinnitus. If you are experiencing symptoms of tinnitus it is best to talk to your doctor about what may be causing it.

There is no known cure for tinnitus; however, it is possible to alleviate symptoms of tinnitus by making modifications to your lifestyle. Practicing relaxation techniques reduces stress and tinnitus symptoms. Exercise also may reduce tinnitus by improving your circulation. Causes of tinnitus can come from many factors, but there is usually one main thing that is the root of tinnitus. Any of the drugs listed above may be causes of tinnitus, but it is best to consult your doctor before you stop taking the medication.

 

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24
Feb
2012

Ringing of the Ear: Block Out the Noise!

Although there is no known cure for ringing of the ear, there are many tinnitus remedies and treatments you can do to block out the ringing of the ear. Popular tinnitus treatments include tinnitus retraining, sleep pillows, hearing aids, and nutritional supplements. However, most tinnitus patients eventually learn to “ignore” their ringing of the ear until they no longer notice it.

It is not easy to ignore something that stays with you all day, which is the case for most people who suffer from chronic tinnitus. If ringing of the ear is interfering with your ability to relax, sleep, work, hold a conversation, or listen to music, then it’s imperative that you learn how to ignore the symptoms… easier said than done, but it is possible!

Here are some ways to block out the noise!

  1. Turn on your computer and surf the web for a while. Check out some helpful websites and blogs for tinnitus suffers.
  2. Read a good book… a thriller, romance, or a humor novel!
  3. Clean the house. Nothing’s more soothing to a tinnitus sufferer than the steady hum of a vacuum cleaner.
  4. Organize your garage or other work areas.
  5. Exercise! Run around the block, dust off your elliptical machine, or walk your dog.
  6. Turn on the TV or put in a DVD, even if it’s just for the background noise. For many tinnitus patients, nothing is more agonizing than complete silence.
  7. Listen to the radio or an environmental noise CD. Many tinnitus sufferers find relief through nature sounds such as rainfall, beach waves, and forest sounds.
  8. Go for a drive! Your focus will be on the road and street sounds instead of your inner ear.
  9. Turn on a fan… the gentle whooshing noise of a fan is one of the best sounds for blocking out the ringing of the ear.

10.  Call a friend! It will help for relieving stress and break the tinnitus cycle.

Above are some great ways to alleviate your ringing of the ear. Tinnitus or ringing of the ear can get in the way of your daily activities. Instead of letting this happen, use your daily tasks to help yourself block on the ringing of the ear!

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