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Idris Gatsby
Idris Gatsby
Senior Staff Writer

What Causes Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a term used to refer to the perception of ringing or noise in the ears. This condition is common and tends to affect about 15% to 20% of people. Tinnitus, in itself, isn’t a medical condition, as it represents a symptom of an underlying health condition. Some of the conditions that could cause tinnitus include a circulatory system disorder, an ear injury, or age-related hearing loss.

Ordinarily, tinnitus isn’t a sign of something serious, even though it can be very bothersome. With the right treatment, you can improve this condition. However, failure to seek medical attention can cause the problem to get worse with age.

Symptoms of Tinnitus

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With tinnitus, it’s important to remember that even when there’s no external noise source, the ringing sensation or noise can be heard clearly. Symptoms of this condition may include the following:

  • Humming
  • Ringing
  • Clicking
  • Hissing
  • Roaring
  • Buzzing

This “phantom” noise usually comes in varying noise degrees, ranging from a high squeal to a low roar. Plus, a person may perceive such sounds either in one ear or in both. However, the phantom sound can be so loud that it interferes with your daily activities, as it makes it very difficult to concentrate or hear real external sounds. This sound may either come and go or could be present for a long period of time. Without treatment, loud phantom sounds can affect the quality of your life and force you to give up on certain activities. For example, if you’re a lover of pets, this condition can make accomodating a cat with disabilities challenging.

It’s also important to know that there are two types of this condition — objective and subjective tinnitus.

Objective Tinnitus

This type of tinnitus can be heard by your doctor during a medical examination. It’s a very rare condition, which can be caused by a muscle contraction, a middle ear bone condition, or a problem in the blood vessel. This type always requires intervention from a doctor.

Subjective Tinnitus

If you alone can hear the phantom sound, it’s subjective tinnitus. This type is the most common and can be caused by problems in your inner, middle, or outer ear. Aside from that, problems in the inner part of your brain responsible for transmitting nerve signals, as sound can also cause subjective tinnitus. The issues can be both inside the ear or outside. Fortunately, drugs and supplements like Tinnitus 911 Walmart can be used to offer ear ringing relief.

Tinnitus 911 is a safe all-natural supplement for those who suffer from buzzing, roaring, clicking or hissing sounds in their ears caused as a result of tinnitus. It’s made with all-natural ingredients, including olive extract, Hawthorne berry, hibiscus, and niacin. It’s completely safe and works by calming down the entire nervous system and preventing panic attacks from occurring while reducing the risk of memory disorders.

Causes of Tinnitus

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Several health conditions can either cause or worsen this condition. These can range from chronic health conditions to common accidents that occur in the kitchen, which affect the nerves in the ear. Unfortunately, in most cases, the exact cause of the condition is never found.

Damage to the hair cells in the inner is the most common cause of tinnitus. The pressure caused by external sound waves is responsible for moving the direction of the delicate hair cells’ movement in the inner ear. That causes the hair cells to release electrical signals to the brain for translation. Any breakage or damage to the hair cells can lead to random electrical impulses being leaked to the brain, causing tinnitus.

Other common causes of tinnitus include:

  • Age-related hearing loss: Naturally, hearing worsens with age in most people, usually beginning at 60 years. This kind of hearing loss can lead to tinnitus.
  • Exposure to very loud noise: As mentioned previously, damages to the hair cells in the inner ears can trigger tinnitus. Unhealthy activities like listening to loud music through earphones or short-term exposure to loud noise can cause this condition. Also, people who work in very loud environments are at serious risk of tinnitus.
  • Changes in the ear bone: Otosclerosis, a condition that causes a stiffening of the bones in your middle ear, can cause tinnitus by affecting your hearing. Otosclerosis is usually caused by abnormal bone growth.
  • Earwax blockage: Earwax traps dirt and prevents it from entering the ear canal and causing bacterial infections. Too much accumulation of earwax in the inner ears can make washing off naturally very difficult. That can lead to irritation of the eardrum and even hearing loss, which can also trigger tinnitus.

Other factors such as head or neck injuries, muscle spasms in the ear, Meniere’s disease, acoustic neuroma, and eustachian tube dysfunction are also possible causes of tinnitus. Beyond these, any condition that affects the blood supply to the ears’ inner parts can also cause this tinnitus.

How to Prevent Tinnitus

Although tinnitus usually results from conditions or factors that cannot be prevented, you can take certain precautionary measures to reduce your risk.

Cardiovascular Health

Take care of your health in general, especially your cardiovascular health, as it ensures that your inner ears receive a constant supply of blood. If you’re on any medication, look for the safest way to renew a prescription. Also, get a lot of exercise, and combine it with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.

Turn Down the Volume

About 90% of people with tinnitus were exposed to loud noise. Therefore, it’s very important to turn down the volume whenever you’re listening to music through your earphones or headphones.

Wear Earplugs

Always use earplugs before entering very loud environments like concerts or even some workplaces. For example, if you operate chainsaws or work with firearms, it’s essential to use ear protection. Also, ensure that you avoid some drugs that can worsen the condition.

To conclude, although tinnitus affects millions of people without being fatal, it can significantly affect your quality of life when left untreated. There are some simple treatment options available if you have this condition. However, the best option is to ensure that you take the necessary preventive measures and live an active life. Always consult your doctor before taking any medication, supplements, or undergoing any kind of self-medication.