Posts Tagged ‘cause of tinnitus’

Tinnitus Treatments: Which Ones Have You Tried?

Monday, February 13th, 2012

There are numerous tinnitus treatments and remedies, but the trick is finding the one that works best for you. There are many causes of tinnitus. Although there is no one cure for tinnitus there are many tinnitus treatments available for silencing tinnitus symptoms such as constant hissing, whooshing, crackling, or ringing in the ears. Below are some of the most popular tinnitus treatments.

  1. Vitamins and minerals for tinnitus: Sometimes, tinnitus occurs because of nutritional deficiency. Studies have pointed to supplementation of zinc, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin C as an effective means of treating tinnitus.
  2. Herbal remedies for tinnitus: Practitioners of Chinese medicine recommend using gingko biloba, black cohosh, Hawthorn, and Cornus (dogwood) for relieving tinnitus symptoms.
  3. Ultrasound: Ultrasound become a potential treatment for tinnitus suffers after patients who received ultrasound testing for sinus problems reported fewer episodes of tinnitus.
  4. Hypnotherapy: Many tinnitus sufferers have learned how to silence tinnitus ear ringing temporarily through self-hypnosis.
  5. Meditation: By practicing relaxation techniques, many are able to relieve stress-related tinnitus symptoms while also learning how to ignore tinnitus sounds.
  6. Acupuncture: Acupuncture triggers your body’s natural painkilling endorphins and promotes natural healing. In some cases, tinnitus patients have found relief by visiting an acupuncturist.
  7. Electromagnetic stimulation: Some scientific studies suggest that transcranial magnetic stimulation may be effective at treating chronic tinnitus.
  8. Ear canal magnets: Though not scientifically proven, many believe that placing magnets by the eardrum is beneficial for the ears and potential tinnitus cure.
  9. Low-power laser therapy: Low-power laser treatment directed at the inner ear’s cochlea is another experimental tinnitus treatment.
  10. Homeopathic tinnitus cures: Popular homeopathic medications for treating tinnitus symptoms include Carbo vegetabilis, Cinchona officinalis, Coffea cruda, Chininum sulphuricum, Cimicifuga, Graphites, Kali carbonicum, Lycopodium, Natrum salicylicum, and Salicylicum acidum.

Above are the top ten most popular tinnitus treatments. Some of the tinnitus treatments may be combined for a more beneficial treatment. If you have tried any of these tinnitus treatments let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

 

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Tinnitus: An Overview

Monday, February 6th, 2012

Causes of Tinnitus

Stress is one of the biggest underlying causes of tinnitus. There are many other causes such as inner ear damage and infection, Meniere’s disease, general health problems, noise-damaged hearing, and head and neck trauma. Tinnitus itself is not a disease or condition, it is actually a symptom of another condition or problem. Therefore, it is the other condition or medical problem that needs to be treated, not tinnitus.

Treatment for Tinnitus

Most sufferers who see their doctors are given drug-based medications or use technical solutions such as white noise machines and hearing aids. Sometimes sufferers will be given counseling, but these treatments really only address the symptoms of tinnitus and help to manage your tinnitus, not cure it.

Natural Remedies for Tinnitus

Natural remedies for tinnitus address the causes of tinnitus through diet, health improvement and lifestyle changes. There are many effective natural home remedies for tinnitus; you just have to do your research through trial and error in order to find the best remedy that works for you.

White Noise Machines

White noise machines are electronic devices that product white noise at levels that can mask the sounds of tinnitus in your head. White noise tinnitus machines cannot cure your tinnitus, but they can help by providing relaxing sounds that effectively drown out the tinnitus sounds.

White Noise Tinnitus Machines and Stress Relief

These noise machines can produce sounds like waterfalls, flowing rivers, waves and rainfall. These noises can help relax you and relieve stress as well as masking the sounds of your tinnitus. Stress may cause a vicious cycle for tinnitus: stress causes tinnitus, tinnitus causes you more stress, more stress leads to worse tinnitus. Relaxation and stress relief are very important in attempting to reduce tinnitus.

 

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Tinnitus Symptoms: Do You Think You Have Tinnitus?

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Common tinnitus symptoms include annoying ringing, buzzing, or whistling sounds in your ear. Have you been suffering from these tinnitus symptoms? If so, you should consult your doctor immediately. Tinnitus affects millions of people across the world. There are several different types of tinnitus so it is best to be very familiar with your tinnitus symptoms so that it can be treated correctly.

Common tinnitus symptoms:

  • Regularly hearing a high pitched ringing, buzzing or whistling sound in your ears or head. This ringing noise can affect either one or both of your ears and the noise may be constant or it can come and go.
  • Ringing sounds can also have many other negative effects on your life if you do not treat it. Tinnitus may leave you feeling run down, tired, depressed and frustrated.

There are a lot of different reasons that may be causing tinnitus, but the most common causes are stress, bad diet and exposure to loud noise. Below are some of the common types tinnitus.

  • Subjective Tinnitus: This is the most common type of tinnitus and is usually what most people have. Subjective tinnitus can only be heard by the person who is experiencing the ringing noise in their ears.
  • Objective Tinnitus: An examiner or doctor can hear this type of tinnitus during a close inspection by using a stethoscope. Although they can hear the ringing, it is very faint.
  • Pulsatile Tinnitus: This type of tinnitus is where the high-pitched ringing or wavy noise beats in tune with your pulse. Pulsatile tinnitus may often be caused by a more serious condition.

Tinnitus symptoms can be serious and may be caused by other issues. If you are continuously experiencing tinnitus symptoms consult your doctor.

 

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Anxiety and Tinnitus: How to Cope

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Do you suffer from anxiety and tinnitus? Do you feel like anxiety and tinnitus are controlling your life? Tinnitus affects about 50 million Americans and out of those 50 million, 12 million suffer tinnitus symptoms that are so severe that they are forced to seek medical intervention. Below are some tips on how to cope with anxiety and tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a hearing-related condition, which causes sufferers to hear constant ringing or buzzing sounds in one ear or both ears, usually varying in pitch, volume, and frequency. Some tinnitus sufferers are able to find relief in the form of homeopathic medicine, laser therapy or ear implants.

According to the American Tinnitus Association there is currently no cure for tinnitus. Many tinnitus sufferers who are unable to find relief from their symptoms eventually sink into despair, experience anxiety attacks because they are so anxious to be freed from constant buzzing, clicking or ringing sounds in the ear.

Here are some tips on anxiety and tinnitus!

  • Aromatherapy: It’s no myth that inhaling scents such as lavender or rosemary can have soothing effects on your nerves. There have been a number or scientific studies proving that your mind is open to signals from scents and that certain aromas can trigger your mood reflex. Peppermint and eucalyptus scents are rejuvenating and provide energy, while ginger and lemon oil are known to boost alertness.
  • Have a good cry: It’s perfectly acceptable to let it all out when under a lot of stress! In fact, some researchers say that it’s even healthy. In a poll 85% of women said that they felt instant relief after allowing themselves to cry over a stressful event.
  • Donate your time: A great way to relieve stress is to reach out to others and forget your own worries. It’s a win-win situation. Volunteering at a soup kitchen or helping out at a children’s hospital allows you to take some of the stress off yourself for a while and connect with others in your community.
  • Go for a run: Even a 5-minute workout can do wonders to lift your spirits, release stress and ease yourself out of an anxiety attack.
  • Write it down: Keep a mood diary. Every time you feel anxious and sad, or even if you just feel happy, write down all the thoughts and worries that are going through your mind. Some of our problems seem awfully small when we write them down on paper. Reading your diary from an analytic point of view might help you discover some of the main causes and triggers of your anxiety.
  • Acupressure: There are many acupressure grid points on your body, which can trigger endorphins for relieving stress and easing pain. The fleshy area on your hand between the thumb and index finger is effective for relieving anxiety. Simply press gently with two fingers from the opposite hand whenever you feel a panic attack on the horizon.

Above are some tips on anxiety and tinnitus. If you suffer from both these things, do your best to take some time for yourself and relieve your stress. Let us know what you do to cope with anxiety and stress by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook page!

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White Noise Sound Machines: Top 5!

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

If you suffer from ringing in the ears or tinnitus, chances are you have a tough time getting a good night’s sleep. For most sufferers, their tinnitus symptoms such as ringing in the ears, buzzing or clicking wake them up in the middle of the night, interrupt your REM cycle and disturb your sleeping pattern. Numerous tinnitus patients suffer from insomnia, nervousness, anxiety and depression, in addition to ringing in the ears and hearing loss.

White noise sound machines are gaining popularity as an alternative to sleep medications. According to Consumer Reports, white noise machines are almost as effective at inducing restful sleep as sleep medications.

Physicians often recommend that tinnitus patients use a white noise machine at bedtime. Listing to the soothing sounds of breezes, raindrops or bonfires may help you get to sleep quicker, making it easier for you to wake up every morning and feel refreshed. Below is list of the top five white noise machines!

  1. Brookstone Tranquil Moments Sound Therapy System (Brookstone.com)- $129.95. With this white noise machine you can choose from 5 different nature sounds, in addition to 7 white noise programs.
  2. Sound Screen and SleepMate (Marpac.com)-$59.95. This emits white noises that sound like rushing air and effectively masks out unwanted noises such as tinnitus ringing.
  3. Homedics SoundSpa (Walmart.com)- $19.97. This SoundSpa is lightweight, compact and is programmed with six soundtracks, including ocean breeze, rain forest, rain shower, waterfall rapids, nighttime and gentle heartbeat.
  4. Marsona (Target.com)- $69.99. This white noise machine is small enough to put in a carry-on bag. There are two adjustable settings that emit a constant stream of white noise to help you sleep better.
  5. Ecotiones Duet (Amazon.com)- $129.99. This machine reacts to the level of environmental noise and automatically adjusts its volume accordingly. There are ten sounds that mimic the sounds of nature.

Above are the top five suggested white noise machines for tinnitus and ringing in the ears. The symptoms of tinnitus can be frustrating and even more so when you are trying to go to sleep. If you haven’t already, try one of the white noise machines above to help you get a restful nights sleep!

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Tinnitus Recipe: Focaccia Bread

Monday, December 12th, 2011

Many people with ringing in the ear find that modifying their diets can help reduce tinnitus. Some claim that baking yeast found in breads and pastries makes their tinnitus symptoms worse. Here is a recipe courtesy of The Meeting Point, a UK group devoted to alternative living:

Focaccia Bread

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Ingredients:

1lb 2oz. of strong white bread flour, plus extra for kneading

1 7g. sachet easy-blend dried yeast

1 teaspoon of fine sea salt

6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

10 fl. ounces hand-hot water

2-3 tablespoons of rosemary leaves

2 teaspoons of coarse sea salt

Method:
Mix flour, yeast, and fine salt in large mixing bowl. Stir in 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, and the water, and mix into a soft dough.

Turn out onto a floured work surface and knead for about 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Lightly oil a large, solid baking sheet. Roll the dough out into a rectangle measuring approcimately 8 inches by 12 inches and place on the baking sheet. Cover with a clean, damp tea towel and leave in a warm place until doubled in size. This will take about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Using fingertips, dimple the surface of the dough. This will allow the olive oil to sink in. Drizzle liberally with the remaining extra virgin olive oil and scatter with the rosemary. Sprinkle over the coarse sea salt and bake on the middle shelf of the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown and the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

Try this tinnitus recipe and tell us if changing to brewer’s yeast in your baked goods makes a difference in your tinnitus symptoms!

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Ringing In The Ears: Keith’s Tinnitus Diary, Ep. 3

Friday, December 9th, 2011

So far, we’ve followed Keith from his initial onset of tinnitus to his visit to the doctor. In this video, he talks about the tinnitus equalizing in both ears, the dizziness he is having and the many tinnitus remedies his doctor is having him try, including some that “freak” him out. Keith’s ringing in the ears is wearing on him, especially after his visit to a local bar.

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Tinnitus: Man Commits Suicide Because Of Ringing In The Ear

Friday, November 18th, 2011

Photo: Central News

Robert McIndoe, a 52-year-old father of two, committed suicide in the UK due to tinnitus. The man had attended a Them Crooked Vultures concert featuring Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin). He didn’t wear ear plugs. The show resulted in McIndoe developing severe ringing in the ear, or tinnitus. His friend who also went to the concert developed temporary tinnitus, which went away. It was said that the condition was so bothersome he couldn’t sleep for months. He tried to get proper medical care, but had a hard time getting in to see doctors. He first attempted suicide by overdosing in his South London home, but when that didn’t work he resorted to stabbing himself. His psychiatrist, Dr. Helen Stinson, told reporters “he accepted death as a side-effect of stopping the noise”. Unfortunately, McIndoe leaves behind a wife and family in the wake of his suicide. In a twist of sad irony, a referral to an ear specialist arrived in the mail a day after his death.

There is no cure for tinnitus–yet. People are coping with tinnitus by using tinnitus medication and over-the-counter tinnitus treatment to relief their symptoms. If you have tinnitus and feel depressed or desperate, please consult your doctor, a therapist, or go to your nearest emergency room. In the US, the National Suicide Helpline is 1-800-273-8255. We hope you will seek help before making the choice to end your life. Tinnitus is life-altering, and we hope a cure will be found soon.

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Tinnitus Is Major Disability For Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Allen Vaught is a 40-year-old Iraq War veteran with Purple Heart — and a persistent case of ringing in the ears. His tinnitus was caused by his time in Irag, where he spent a year as Army Captain. In June 2003, an IED exploded under his Humvee in Sadr City. “I noticed a very loud explosion,” Vaught said. “This column of dirt rose in the air.” He survived with a broken back, and was awarded a Purple Heart for his bravery. Now, he also has to deal with constant ringing in the ear.

Tinnitus is the most-common service-related disability for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The condition is often 24/7 ringing or buzzing in the ear, sensitivity to noise and pitch, and makes it difficult for sufferers to sleep and function normally in everyday life. There is no tinnitus cure as of yet. Many sufferers try multiple medical treatments and and over-the-counter tinnitus treatment.

A US company called Microtransponder is testing in Belgium an implant that stimulates nerves in the neck to reduce tinnitus symptoms. More than half of patients have reported significant reduction in early testing phases. The company hopes to move clinical trials into the US by next year. They are hopeful they can help veterans like Vaught live an easier day-to-day life and eventually find a tinnitus cure.

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Ringing In The Ears: Keith’s Tinnitus Diary, Ep. 2

Monday, November 14th, 2011

In part 2 of Keith’s tinnitus diary, Keith talks about his trip to the doctor for his newly-acquired ringing in the ear. Keith’s doctor refers him to a specialist and suggests that stress may be making it worse. His doctor also gives him some medicine to take to help get a good night’s sleep. Any tinnitus sufferer knows that tinnitus symptoms can make it really difficult to sleep (Keith only got two hours, and he recommends going to be only when you’re really tired!).

Another concern Keith has is treating the tinnitus without medication, although sometimes he is getting “freaked out”. Sufferers sometimes avoid tinnitus medication because they don’t want to deal with a whole range of side effects that can potentially be more severe than the tinnitus itself. Many try over-the-counter tinnitus treatment first. We’ll follow Keith on his video journey and see what he ends up doing to alleviate his tinnitus symptoms.

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