jamespiska: Tinnitus: Causes, Treatments and Home Remedies

শনিবার, ২ মার্চ, ২০১৩

Tinnitus: Causes, Treatments and Home Remedies | Home ...

Tinnitus is a medical term that describes phantom noise in the ears or head. This annoying sensation involves hearing sounds when no actual, external sounds are present. Patients usually describe the noise as ringing, buzzing, hissing, clicking or roaring in the ears.

Tinnitus is a relatively common problem, affecting about one in five adults. It is not a disease or condition; rather, it is a symptom of an underlying health condition. The presence of tinnitus usually indicates an ear injury, hearing loss or blood vessel problems.

Although tinnitus is troublesome and annoying, it usually does not signify a serious problem. For some people, tinnitus worsens with age; for others, it improves with treatment. In fact, treating an underlying cause may eliminate tinnitus symptoms. Other remedies can reduce or mask the noise.

Tinnitus Causes

Many health conditions can cause tinnitus or make it worse. Inner ear damage is the most common one. Delicate hairs in the inner ear move in relation to sound waves, triggering an electrical signal to the brain. If the hairs bend or break, their random impulses can cause tinnitus noise.

Ear injuries and chronic health conditions are other common tinnitus causes. They often affect the nerves in the ear or in the brain?s hearing center. Noise exposure, earwax blockage and age-related hearing loss can also cause tinnitus.

Inner ear problems, temperomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, head or neck injuries and benign tumors are some of the less common causes of tinnitus. In very rare cases, the condition may stem from blood vessel disorders or head and neck cancers.

Tinnitus Treatment

Depending on the cause, tinnitus treatment may include earwax removal, vascular surgery or something as simple as changing medications. Aspirin, antibiotics, antidepressants, diuretics and other drugs can worsen the condition.

Some devices can reduce the tinnitus noise or make it more bearable. Hearing aids, white noise machines and masking devices are among the most popular noise suppression devices.

Home Remedies?

Some?tinnitus sufferers?may benefit from natural cures and home remedies. For example, a few drops of warmed olive oil can soften earwax and make it easier to remove. Natural remedy enthusiasts recommend ginkgo biloba supplements for improved hearing.

Low-sodium diets can lower blood pressure, and blood circulation benefits from less alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. As patients address these problems, their tinnitus symptoms often diminish. Finally, a nutrient-rich diet that improves overall health strengthens the immune system and guards against infections that can aggravate tinnitus.