Medical and Natural Tinnitus Cures
Tinnitus is a condition in which a person hears a ringing or buzzing in his ears. The sound is not caused by anything in the immediate surroundings, and so he is the only one who can hear it. This is why the condition is called “subjective” tinnitus. The sound heard is often described as a buzzing, ringing, roaring or chirping noise, and it can vary in pitch and loudness. In some cases the sound is continuous, while in others it is heard intermittently. Some people with tinnitus also have extreme sensitivity to actual sounds in the environment.
Tinnitus is commonly believed to be a natural part of ageing. Many people over forty experience it, especially men. Doctors explain that as one gets older, his hearing acuity, like his eyesight, naturally diminishes. This condition is called presbycusis or age-associated hearing loss. With age, there is also a greater tendency toward otosclerosis, or the hardening of small structures inside the ear. This is another condition that leads to hearing loss and has tinnitus as one of the symptoms.
Tinnitus is, in fact, medically considered to be a symptom rather than a disease. As a symptom, it is not cured. The proper course of action is to treat the underlying disease, which will then relieve or reduce the associated symptoms.
For tinnitus relief, a doctor may prescribe drugs such as lidocaine, benzodiazepines, and tricyclics. The drug will depend on what causes the tinnitus. More commonly, the doctor will recommend certain changes in one’s diet and lifestyle. Quitting smoking, and avoiding caffeine, alcohol and salty food all help to reduce tinnitus. Supplementation with zinc also relieves tinnitus, especially in people who are zinc-deficient to start with. These are natural tinnitus cures that often reduce the frequency of tinnitus, but the root cause or disorder must be treated to prevent the recurrence of tinnitus. Some of the conditions and diseases that cause tinnitus are hypertension, acoustic neuroma, carotid atherosclerosis, Meniere’s disease, multiple sclerosis, anemia, labyrinthitis, otosclerosis, temporomandibular (TM) problems and thyroid disease. When any of these is found to be present, it must be treated to get rid of the tinnitus completely.
Research has shown that obese people are more prone to tinnitus. Exercise and weight loss are then recommended in this case. Exercise is doubly helpful because it also improves blood circulation within the ears, promoting better hearing. Tinnitus is often present when there is a hearing problem, and improving hearing often reduces or eliminates tinnitus.
Hyperextending the neck for a long time, such as when biking, can also cause tinnitus. So can exposure to marked changes in pressure, such as when boarding an airplane or mountain climbing. Tinnitus in these instances is usually relieved when the activity is stopped. Generally speaking, tinnitus that is activity-dependent, and which comes and goes, does not require medical treatment. What will warrant a visit to the otolaryngologist (a doctor that specializes in disorders of the ear, nose, and throat) is when tinnitus occurs with other symptoms, when it does not get better or disappear after a while, or when it is in only one ear. So for one who is experiencing tinnitus, first try out natural tinnitus cures such as those mentioned above, then wait for a few days and see if the tinnitus disappears. If it does, all is well. If it doesn’t, this may indicate that a trip to the otolaryngologist is necessary.
