Symptoms of tinnitus

Not all people who have tinnitus are aware of it, or even realize that it’s a cited hearing problem.  When tinnitus worsens, it can cause chronic symptoms like constant ear ringing or whooshing, ear fullness, hearing loss, and ear pain.  For some, tinnitus ear ringing keeps them up nights and interferes with their ability to have conversations, focus on work, or even enjoy a moment of silence.

Tinnitus causes

Tinnitus is often, but not always, caused by old age.  Chronic ear infections and ototoxic medications like quinine may cause tinnitus.  Noise-induced ear damage is a frequent cause of tinnitus and hearing loss among people under the age of 50.

People who work in loud environments are susceptible to tinnitus.  At-risk occupations include the military, road construction, shop machinist, landscapers, pilot, stuntmen, and truck drivers.

Read: 7 Most Harmful Trickle-Down Effects of Noise Pollution

Also, anybody who listens to loud music for an extended period is likely to develop tinnitus.  This includes musicians and roadies, but it can also apply to anybody who constantly listens to loud music through an in-ear headphone (earbud).

How loud is too loud?

According to hearing safety standards, any noise over 85 decibels is unsafe for your ears and may eventually cause hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

Read: How Loud is Too Loud? Prevent Tinnitus Now

Tips for tinnitus-free listening

Tip #1: Don’t push the dial to 10.

Your iPod earbuds are capable of reaching ear-shattering 100 decibels.  Instead, find a halfway point on your volume controller and keep it set there.

Tip #2: Get safe headphones

If you don’t trust yourself to keep the music down, invest in a pair of volume-controlled headphones that are certified safe for your ears, and not likely to cause tinnitus.

Read: Top 5 Noise Cancelling Headphones

Tip #3: Can you hear me?

Can you hear somebody talking to you while you’re listening to music?  If you can’t, then it’s too loud.  Turn it down to tune out tinnitus.

Tip #4: What’s that ringing?

If you hear a ringing sound or temporary hearing loss after removing your headphone, then you are probably causing tinnitus.

Tip #5: Limit iPod usage

Keep iPod listening down to one hour at a time, maximum.  Anything over that is proven to cause hearing loss and tinnitus.

Read: Are iPods Ruining Your Ears?

Tip #6: Avoid earbuds

Wear over-the-ear headphones, as opposed to the in-ear earbuds that came with your iPod.  The over-ear headphones are 5 decibels lower and less likely to cause tinnitus ear damage.

Please tell us…

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about tinnitus causes

Drugs that Cause Tinnitus: Ototoxic Medications

21 Things that Cause Tinnitus Ear Ringing

Sources:

How Can I Tell If I’m Playing My MP3 Player Too Loudly?

Listen up: Tips for iPod and hearing safety

Sleeping pills are deadlier than cigarettes

Researchers from University of California, San Diego found that people who occasionally use hypnotic sleeping pills have a significantly high mortality rate, as much as 5.3 times higher than people who don’t use sleeping aids to treat their insomnia, even infrequently.  The results, published by BMJ, can have a strong impact on tinnitus patients who use prescription sleeping pills in order to get to sleep.

Tinnitus Symptoms Making you Turn to Sleeping Pills? Read about Side Effects of Sleep Drugs

What are hypnotic drugs?

Unlike natural sleeping aids like melatonin that put your body in a state of relaxation, hypnotic drugs force your body into sleep.  According to this latest study, even using sleeping pills once per month increases your chances of dying of cancer more than threefold.

Examples of hypnotic sleeping pills are:

• Zolpidem (Ambien)
• Temazepam (Restoril)
• Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
• Zaleplon (Sonata)
• Triazolam (Halcion)
• Flurazepam (Dalmane)
• Barbiturates
• Sedative antihistamines

How to Fall Asleep with Tinnitus and Insomnia- 5 Bedtime Tips

What are the implications?

This study doesn’t prove that using sleeping pills will kill you, nor does it suggest that cutting back on hypnotic drug prescriptions will lower the mortality rate.  What it does suggest, however, is that there is a high correlation between even casual prescription drug use, as few as 18 doses in one year, and significantly higher chances of dying of cancer.

Alternative tinnitus treatments

If tinnitus symptoms are causing insomnia, you are better off trying to relieve the constant ear ringing and anxiety that it causes naturally, before reverting to prescription medicines. Alternative medications carry no risk factors, assuming they are used responsibly and under the supervision of a doctor.  Homeopathic and herbal remedies for tinnitus are preferable to prescription drugs, as they cause no harmful side effects and work with your body, not against it.

Popular alternative therapies for tinnitus and insomnia include:

• Ginkgo biloba
• Valerian root
• Chamomile
• Hops
• Lemon balm
• Acupuncture
• Hypnotherapy

Please tell us…

• Does tinnitus keep you awake most nights?
• How often do you use sleeping pills?
• Have you tried using natural supplements to treat tinnitus?
• Please leave us your comments, suggestions, and questions below!

Read more about alternative tinnitus treatments:

Top 5 Tinnitus Acupressure Points All Acupuncturists use

Top 17 Tinnitus Treatments- Have you tried all of these?

Sources:

Hypnotics’ association with mortality or cancer: a matched cohort study

The following is an abbreviated list taken from Ototoxic Medications:  Drugs that can cause Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, as published by the League for the Hard of Hearing.

Drugs that cause tinnitus

Anesthetics (painkillers, analgesics, sedatives)

• Bupivacain
• Lidocaine (Novacaine)
• tetracain

Antibiotics

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

21 Things that Cause Tinnitus Ear Ringing

Antimalarial Medications

• Chloroquine (Aralen)
• Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquinil)

Antineoplastics (Cancer drugs)

• Bleomycin (Blenoxane)
• Cisplatinum (Platinol)
• Carboplatinum (Paraplatin)
• Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
• Nitrogen mustard (Mustagen)
• Vinblastin (Velban)

Cardiac Disease Medications

• Flecainide (Tambocar)
• Metoprolol (Lopressor)
• Procainamide (Pronestyl)
• Propranolol (Inderal)
• Quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex)

Diuretics

• Acetazolamide (Diamox)
• Bumetanide (Bumex
• Clorothalidone (Hygroton, Tenoretic)
• Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
• Hydrochlorthiazide (Hydrodiuril)
• Methylchlorthizide (Enduron)

Glucocorticosteroids (GC, steroid hormones)

• Prednisolone (Prednisone)
• ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone, Acthar)

Is TMJ Causing Your Tinnitus? 7 Exercises to Release Jaw Tension

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)

Stress Less to Prevent Tinnitus and Hearing Loss

Non-drug chemicals that cause tinnitus

• Dichloromethane
• Hexane (gasoline)
• Lindane (Kwell topical)
• Methyl-chloride
• Methyl butyl ketone
• Perchlor-ethylene
• Styrene (vinyl benzene)
• Tetrachloroethylene
• Toluene
• Trichloroethylene

Ways to stop tinnitus ear ringing

While there is no 100% cure for tinnitus, it is possible to alleviate annoying tinnitus symptoms by making modifications in your diet and lifestyle.

• Eliminating or reducing your salt intake is helpful for preventing tinnitus.
• Practicing relaxation techniques reduces stress and tinnitus symptoms.
• Exercise reduces tinnitus by improving your circulation.
• Avoid tinnitus triggers like napping during the day and missing nighttime sleep.
• When listening to music, keep the volume down to a safe decibel, in order to avoid noise-induced tinnitus.
• Ask your doctor if you can take natural supplements for tinnitus, containing Ginkgo biloba, Black Cohosh, zinc, and B vitamins.

Please tell us…

• Are you currently taking any of the above-listed drugs that cause tinnitus?
• On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the effect that tinnitus has had on your life, with 1 being “tinnitus has made little or no difference” and 10 being “tinnitus has destroyed my peace of mind?”
• Which tinnitus treatments have you tried, and which has given you the most relief?
• Have you experimented with homeopathic medicine for tinnitus?

Read more about tinnitus causes:

Thrill Rides and Scuba Diving: Summertime Activities that Cause Tinnitus

The Many Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus: Why am I More Likely to Suffer Ringing Ears than Others?

Images: Stuart Miles, photostock, foto76

Because Chinese medicine treats the body as a whole organism, rather than treating one symptom at a time, acupressure points that cure tinnitus can be found in all corners of your body- your feet, abdomen, wrist, back, and head all have specific grid points that when triggered will cure whatever ailments are causing your tinnitus.

Acupuncturists use needles to access these powerful pressure points, but you can easily balance your qi (energy) and cure tinnitus in the comfort of your own home by gently massaging the following acupressure zones:

Bai Hui “Hundred Convergences”

GV 20 is one of the most potent acupressure points in Chinese medicine; it is called the “Hundred Convergences” because the ancient Chinese believed it was capable of curing 100 diseases.  In addition to treating tinnitus, you may also cure neurological and emotional disorders by stimulating Bai Hui.

Some symptoms that may be treated by accessing your Bai Hui are:

• Tinnitus ear ringing
• Migraine headache
• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Fatigue
• “Brain fog”
• Eye pain
• Anxiety
• Hypertension
• Seizures

To locate your Bai Hui, imagine a line running on top of your head, forward to back, between your ears, sort of like a Mohawk.  The point that is directly on top of your head in the middle is your Bai Hui.

Feng Chi “Wind Pool”

GB 20 is another powerful point for curing illnesses of the head like tinnitus and headaches.

Some symptoms that may be treated by accessing your Feng Chi are:

• Tinnitus
• Headaches
• Stiff neck
• Twitching
• Ear fullness
• Ear pain
• Paralysis
• Numbness
• Dizziness
• Vertigo

Feng Chi is located at the nape of your neck.  To start, place both hands behind your head and use both thumbs to find the soft spot at the base of your skull.  Now, gently walk each thumb apart until you find depressions that are adjacent to your large neck muscles.  Press each thumb inwards, towards your eyes.

Ting Gong “Auditory Palace”

SI 19 is used in Chinese medicine to calm the spirit and treat ear problems, including tinnitus and deafness.

Some symptoms that may be treated by accessing your Ting Gong are:

• Tinnitus
• Hearing loss
• Ear discharge
• Ear pain
• TMJ pain
• Toothache
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Seizures

Ting Gong is located in the hollow directly in front of each ear.  To access, open your mouth, and feel the depression where your jaws meet.

Ting Hui “Auditory Convergence”

GB 2 particularly helpful for treating all ailments related to the ear such as tinnitus and hearing loss.

Some symptoms that may be treated by accessing your Ting Hui are:

• Tinnitus
• Hearing loss
• Ear itching
• Ear fullness
• Ear pain
• Ear discharge
• Toothache
• TMJ pain
• Headache

Ting Hui is located directly below your Ting Gong acupressure point.

Shuai Gu “Leading Valley”

GB 8 is beneficial for treating damage caused by toxins.  This is especially helpful for curing tinnitus caused by long-time use of painkillers, antidepressants, birth control, and quinine.

Some symptoms that may be treated by accessing your Shuai Gu are:

• Tinnitus ear ringing
• Ear fullness
• Head heaviness
• Facial pain
• Vertigo
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Migraines
• One-sided headaches
• Visual distortions

Shuai Gu is located directly above your ear.

Please tell us…

Have you used acupuncture or acupressure for curing tinnitus ear ringing?

Do you believe that using natural supplements can reduce tinnitus triggers, when used in conjunction with acupressure for tinnitus?

As always, we welcome your comments!

Spread the love…

Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Read more about natural tinnitus cures:

Top 17 Tinnitus Treatments- Have you tried all of these?

Acupuncture as a Remedy for Tinnitus

Tinnitus Cure – Top Ten List

Sources:

Acupuncture Points Database

If you have tinnitus, you’ll try almost anything to stop the constant ringing in the ears; have you ever considered weight loss as a tinnitus cure? Scientists who saw a link between intracranial hypertension and morbid obesity wondered if weight loss surgery might be the answer to finding the elusive cure for tinnitus…reduced ear ringing through weight loss.

Who’re you calling idiopathic?

If you’ve been suffering from tinnitus for many years, it is possible that you have what’s called “idiopathic intracranial hypertension,” or pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), which is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluids surrounding the brain, causing immense pressure.  It sounds scarier than it is.  “Idiopathic” means that they don’t know what causes it, and “pseudotumor” refers to the fact that it causes the same symptoms as a tumor, only without the tumor.

Pseudotumor cerebri is characterized as a neurological disorder because of the effect that the intracranial pressure has on the cerebral nerves.

Intracranial hypertension, meet tinnitus

There are many symptoms associated with pseudotumor cerebri, and pulsatile tinnitus (whooshing sounds in the ear that correlate with your heartbeat) is one of them.  There are many causes of tinnitus, from ear damage to chemical poisoning, but pulsatile tinnitus is specifically caused by brain blood vessels that become swollen, triggering the cranial nerves into producing ear ringing and pounding sounds in the ear that are in time with your heartbeat.

What are the symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri?

Symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri are often worsened by frequent coughing and sneezing.

Here are the most common symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC):

• Headache
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Pulsatile tinnitus
• Numbness in the hands and feet
• Muscular feebleness, including facial muscles
• Altered sense of smell
• Disorientation
• Double vision
• Untreated, may lead to vision loss

Intracranial hypertension, meet obesity

Although scientists are not certain as to the exact cause of pseudotumor cerebri, they have acknowledged some high correlations in people with morbid obesity and tinnitus. Many studies have been conducted linking elevated cerebrospinal fluid with severe headaches, pulsatile tinnitus, and morbid obesity.

Also, it has been proven that losing weight relieves pseudotumor cerebri and the symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus at the same time, as evidenced by this study:

• Sixteen women who suffered from morbid obesity and pulsatile tinnitus underwent weight loss surgery for this study.
• The body mass indexes (BMIs) of the study participants ranged from 33 to 70, with 45 being the median.
• Healthy BMI levels are between 18.5 and 24.9, with 30 and above signifying morbid obesity.
• Following weight loss surgery, the women who participated in this study lost between 55 and 218 pounds, averaging about 100 pounds per person in weight loss.
• The average weight for each tinnitus sufferer following surgery was 165 pounds.
• Before the weight loss surgery, average cerebrospinal fluid pressure measured at 344 mm H2O.
• After receiving weight loss surgery, tinnitus patients saw an average decrease in cerebrospinal fluid pressure by 198 mm H2O.
• Out of the 16 patients, 13 reported a complete cessation of pulsatile tinnitus symptoms.
• Only three patients continued to suffer from pulsatile tinnitus, even though they lost a significant amount of weight.
• Scientists concluded that losing weight is effective at relieving pulsatile tinnitus and pseudotumor cerebri.

What else can I do to relieve cerebrospinal fluid pressure?

If going in for weight loss surgery is not an option, there are other effective and noninvasive ways to reduce or completely alleviate tinnitus symptoms.

• Lose weight naturally.  What many people don’t realize when considering weight loss surgery is that you will still have to dedicate yourself to adhering to a strict diet. So why not bypass the gastric bypass, and lose weight the good old-fashioned way?  Scientifically speaking, if you expend more energy than you put in, then you will lose weight. Exercise more, and count your calories by following a food diary, many of which are available free online or via iTunes.
• Limit salt. Salt is known to cause swelling, and by limiting your salt intake, you decrease your chances for suffering from stroke, heart attack, and tinnitus.

• Try natural supplements. Many vitamins, herbs, and holistic medicines are helpful for alleviating tinnitus by reducing blood pressure.  Some good ones to try are ginkgo biloba, black cohosh, Coffea cruda, and Carbo vegetabilis.

Please tell us…

Would you consider having weight loss surgery, if you thought it would cure you of your tinnitus?

What methods have you tried to cure tinnitus?

What about homeopathic and alternative medicine- have you explored the options of natural remedies for tinnitus?

If you have anything to add, please feel free to comment below.  We welcome your suggestions or questions!

Spread the love…

Know anybody suffering from tinnitus? Do you have severe tinnitus, want others to know what it’s like?  Please share our articles with your friends and family via email, Facebook, or our new Google+ page!

Thank you!

Read more about tinnitus cures:

Top 17 Tinnitus Treatments- Have you tried all of these?

Finding Tranquility with Tinnitus, Part II: Homeopathy

Magnet Therapy a No-Go for Tinnitus Ringing in Ears

Sources:

Pulsatile tinnitus in patients with morbid obesity: the effectiveness of weight reduction surgery- PubMed, NCBI

Gastric surgery for pseudotumor cerebri associated with severe obesity- PubMed, NCBI

Pseudotumor Cerebri: Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

1- Vitamins and minerals for tinnitus

Sometimes, tinnitus occurs because of a 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.

These 4 Vitamins are Tops for Treating Tinnitus

2- Herbal remedies for tinnitus

Practitioners of Chinese medicine recommend using gingko biloba, black cohosh, Hawthorn, and Cornus (dogwood) for relieving tinnitus.

3- 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.

4- 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.

5- Ultrasound

Ultrasound became a potential treatment for tinnitus sufferers after patients who received ultrasound testing for sinus problems reported fewer episodes of tinnitus.

21 Things that Cause Tinnitus Ear Ringing

6- Electromagnetic stimulation

Some scientific studies suggest that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may be effective at treating chronic tinnitus.

7- Ear canal magnets

Though not scientifically proven, many believe that placing magnets by the tympanic membrane (eardrum) is beneficial for the ears and a potential tinnitus cure.

8- Low-power laser therapy

Low-power laser treatment directed at the inner ear’s cochlea is another experimental tinnitus treatment.

9- Hypnotherapy

Many tinnitus sufferers have learned how to silence tinnitus ear ringing temporarily through self-hypnosis.

10- Meditation

By practicing relaxation techniques, many are able to relieve stress-related tinnitus symptoms while also learning how to ignore tinnitus sounds.

11- Teflon insertions

In one study, four patients with intrameatal vascular loops and pulsatile tinnitus received Teflon plates between the loop and the cochlea. Three of the four patients reported cessation of tinnitus symptoms after receiving the surgery.

12- Antidepressants

While antidepressant medications like Zoloft, Paxil, and Xanax may cause tinnitus symptoms, they are sometimes effective at treating tinnitus symptoms, as well.

13- Neurontin

Neurontin (gabapentin) is an anticonvulsant drug that is used to prevent seizures and treat neuropathic pain.  Neurontin is also sometimes prescribed to relieve tinnitus.

14- Tinnitus maskers

Tinnitus maskers are devices that produce white noise.  Many tinnitus sufferers find that certain environmental noises effectively “shush” tinnitus sounds.  Tinnitus maskers range from desktop white-noise making machines to in-ear devices that produce a constant flow of tinnitus-quieting sounds.

White Noise Sound Machines- The 5 Best Reviewed by Customers

16- Digital hearing aids

Recent studies prove that tinnitus sufferers who agree to wear hearing aids experience relief from tinnitus symptoms.  However, stigma regarding hearing aid usage keeps many tinnitus patients from pursuing this option.

17- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

TRT is a specific method for treating tinnitus that uses sound therapy while helping patients gain a better understanding of tinnitus disorder.  Through tinnitus retraining therapy,  patients learn how to “turn off” tinnitus symptoms.

Please tell us…

Have you tried any of these tinnitus treatments? Which ones worked best for you? Which tinnitus therapies on this list are you considering?  As always, we welcome your comments.

Please share this information with your friends!

Tinnitus caused by Ototoxicity

Many factors may contribute to tinnitus symptoms, including noise-induced ear damage, chronic ear infections, Meniere’s disease, and age-related hearing loss.  One of the most treatable causes of tinnitus is ototoxicity (ear poisoning) which occurs when certain chemicals cause a toxic reaction in your ears.  Many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs may cause tinnitus ear ringing, including antidepressants for depression and anxiety.

Which drugs cause tinnitus?

Here are some of the most common medications that may cause ringing in the ears from tinnitus.  Please do not stop taking a medication without first speaking to your doctor.

• Zoloft (Sertraline), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressants.  About 1-10% of Zoloft users experience tinnitus symptoms.
• Celexa (Citalopram), also an SSRI antidepressant, causes tinnitus while weaning off the drug.
• Aminoglycoside antibiotics
• Anti-neoplastic (anti-cancer drugs)
• Loop diuretics
• Environmental chemicals like carbon monoxide, xylene, and mercury
• Lipitor (Atorvastatin), a cholesterol-reducing medication
• Zyrtec (Cetirizine), an antihistamine
• Nexium (Esomeprazole), a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used for acid reflux
• Prilosec (Omeprazole), also a proton pump inhibitor that may cause tinnitus
• Aspirin is a common cause of tinnitus ototoxicity
• Quinine

So, depression or tinnitus?

If weaning off drugs that cause tinnitus is the cure for ototoxicity, does that mean that you should stop taking Zoloft for anxiety?  First, nobody considering weaning off antidepressants should attempt to do so without first consulting in a physician.  It’s possible that your doctor will be able to prescribe a different antidepressant that doesn’t cause tinnitus.  More importantly, you need to weigh your options.

Which notion bothers you most- the idea of suffering from ringing in the ears, possibly for the rest of your life, or having to cope with depression.  If your depression causes you to contemplate suicide, then the answer should be clear.  While long-term tinnitus may result in severe depression and, in rare cases, suicide attempts, the majority of tinnitus patients learn how to cope. Bottom line, if your doctor says to stay on the meds, take his advice.

Stress Less to Prevent Tinnitus and Hearing Loss

Alternative treatments for tinnitus

Given that many factors may be causing your tinnitus, it makes sense that there exist many possible cures.  Some popular alternative treatments for tinnitus are becoming more mainstream, including:

• Acupuncture
• Hypnotherapy
• Natural supplements for tinnitus, such as ginkgo biloba, black cohosh, and zinc

We welcome your comments!

If you found this article helpful, please share it with your friends.  Do you have anything you’d like to add? We’d love to hear from you!

Read more about tinnitus causes:

11 Signs and Symptoms of Tinnitus caused by Teeth Grinding

How Loud is Too Loud? Prevent Tinnitus Now

Thrill Rides and Scuba Diving: Summertime Activities that Cause Tinnitus

Sources:

Drugs and Medications that Can Cause Tinnitus

VEDA – Vestibular Disorders Association – Ototoxicity

Here are 21 most common causes of tinnitus:

1) Smoking: Smoking cigarettes isn’t only bad for your lungs, your heart, your throat, your pancreas…well, you get the picture.  Studies prove that cigarette smoke- both inhaled and secondary- is harmful for your ears.  Toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke have been linked with chronic ear infections and…you guessed it…tinnitus.

2) Your iPod: Really!  Anybody who spends his leisure time with a pair of iPod earbuds stuck in his head is inadvertently giving himself ear damage.  Unless you wear a ear-safe noise cancelling headphones, you are exposing your delicate eardrums to dangerously high noise decibels that will ultimately lead to ear ringing caused by tinnitus.

3) Earwax: Doctors say that earwax is a good thing, that it protects your eardrums from foreign matter.  This is true.  However, it is possible to have too much of a good thing, and this is certainly true in the case of earwax.  Some people just naturally produce more earwax than their bodies need. Over time, as earwax builds up, you are left with a solid mass of waxy residue that clogs up your ears- biological earplugs, if you will. If you think this might be the cause of your tinnitus, then a simple trip to the pharmacist should suffice.  Buy an ear-cleaning kit, and see if that helps.

4) Q-Tips: Warning- Do not, under any circumstances, insert cotton swabs into your ears!  Sure, it feels good, but the damage you may cause to your ears is irreversible. Plus, it may worsen your tinnitus.  The same message goes for other foreign objects like twigs, rocks, knives, pencils, fingernails, toothpicks, ear candles, cuticle cutters, and letter openers.

5) Firearms: Are you an avid hunter?  Do you enjoy going to rock concerts just for the fireworks and the loud music?  If so, then you are among the most likely to suffer from tinnitus.  It only takes one loud explosion to cause serious trauma to your inner ear cochlea, the part of your ear responsible for transmitting and receiving sound messages.  So, before you go to the shooting range to fire off a couple rounds, make sure to wear noise-blocking earplugs.

6) Occupational noise: If you work in any of the following fields, then you are regularly exposed to dangerous noise decibels that may cause tinnitus:

• The army or air force
• The police force
• Movie sets
• Airline pilot
• Machinist
• Welder
• Construction worker
• Fed-ex delivery
• Truck driver
• Wedding singer
• And the list goes on…

7) Anxiety: Stress is a common contributor to tinnitus, believe it or not.  Many people who suffer from anxiety disorder, panic attacks, depression, or just high stress levels are prone to ear ringing caused by tinnitus.

8) Anxiety medications: Well, here’s a “Catch 22.”  Anxiety causes tinnitus, and so do popular drugs for anxiety, such as Zoloft (Sertraline).  This is where you get to choose which condition is the most intolerable- chronic anxiety or chronic ear ringing.

9) Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disorder that causes severe chronic pain where no sign of injury or inflammation is evident.  Fibromyalgia patients also suffer from tinnitus, in addition to gastrointestinal disorders, intense fatigue, and vitamin deficiency.

10) Thyroid disorder: Scientists have noted a high occurrence of tinnitus symptoms in people who have either hypothyroidism (underproduction of thyroid hormone) or hyperthyroidism (overproduction of thyroid hormone).

11) Hypertension: High blood pressure is another common cause of tinnitus.

12) Heart disease: Tinnitus is one of the many symptoms experienced by people who suffer from cardiovascular disease.

13) Antibiotics: In addition to lowering your immunity to infectious diseases, frequent use of antibiotics may result in chronic tinnitus.

14) Diuretics: If you take diuretics on a regular basis, then you should stay on the lookout for mysterious ear ringing, buzzing, chirping, whooshing, or clicking sounds in your ears caused by tinnitus.

15) Quinine: Used for treating malaria and other illnesses, quinine may cause tinnitus ear ringing.

16) Aspirin: Excess and prolonged usage of aspirin tablets is a common cause of tinnitus.

Ear bones

17) TMJ disorder: Temporomandibular joint disorder affects the workings of your jawbones, at the point where they meet by your temples.  Any defect that occurs in this area interferes with the smooth functioning of your jaws, and causes symptoms like headaches, nighttime jaw clenching, facial pain, and tinnitus ear ringing.

18) Head and neck injuries: If you have suffered any kind of trauma to your head or neck, then you might experience tinnitus symptoms.

19) Tumor: A head or neck tumor may also cause tinnitus.

20) Lyme disease: Often misdiagnosed, Lyme disease symptoms are similar to fibromyalgia.  Lyme disease spread by tick bites may cause tinnitus.

21) Getting older: Sad, but true.  Tinnitus is one of the many symptoms that people experience as they age. A large majority of tinnitus sufferers and hearing loss patients are senior citizens.  Tinnitus is not a cause of hearing loss, but a symptom that may accompany early onset hearing loss. For some, investing in a hearing aid is a worthwhile remedy for tinnitus and hearing loss.

Did you find this article helpful?  If so, please pass it on!

We welcome your comments below!

Read more about tinnitus causes:

11 Signs and Symptoms of Tinnitus caused by Teeth Grinding

How Loud is Too Loud? Prevent Tinnitus Now

These 4 Vitamins are Tops for Treating Tinnitus

Sources:

Tinnitus Causes- Mayo Clinic

ATA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions- American Tinnitus Association

Prevalence and Characteristics of Tinnitus among US Adults

Drugs and Medications that Can Cause Tinnitus

Tinnitus hearing loss causes constant, irritating ringing in the ears, and ear pain.  There is no cure for tinnitus, but some therapies may ease the symptoms.

There is no “one” cure for tinnitus

The internet abounds with sites promising to deliver the magic cure you’ve been searching for- the secret to weight loss, an end to chronic pain, the magical fountain of youth, and of course, a guaranteed cure for the annoying symptoms of tinnitus that plague your waking…and sleeping…hours.  The problem is, there is no one universal cure.  Because the causes of tinnitus are diverse.  They are:

• Age-related hearing loss
• Chronic ear infections
• Punctured eardrums
• Drug interactions
• Listening to music on your iPod with the volume set too high
• Working in a construction area
• Being near an explosion
• Cranial deformity

Remedies, we have a few

There might not be a permanent cure to end tinnitus, but many therapies, treatments, and nutritional supplements alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus, including:

• Tinnitus retraining therapy
• White noise
• Hypnosis
• Herbal and nutritional supplements, including Gingko Biloba, black cohosh, and CoQ10.

Here are 10 popular books on Amazon.com that will help you find relief from tinnitus:

1- Dizziness, Hearing Loss, and Tinnitus, by Robert W. Baloh, $169.99

2-Tinnitus, Turning the Volume Down: Proven Strategies for Quieting the Noise in Your Head, by Kevin Hogan, $19.99

3-The Consumer Handbook on Tinnitus, by Richard S. Tyler, $25.04

4-The Consumer Handbook on Hearing Loss and Hearing AIDS: A Bridge to Healing, by Richard Carmen, $12.88

5- Tinnitus: Questions and Answers, by Jack A. Vernon, $47.25

6- Help! I’m Losing My Hearing-What Do I Do Now?: A Basic Guide to Hearing Loss (and Other Ear Problems)
, by Neil G. Bauman, $47.60

7- Phantom Voices, Ethereal Music & Other Spooky Sounds: Musical Ear Syndrome, by Neil G. Bauman, $22.49

8- Save Your Hearing Now: The Revolutionary Program That Can Prevent and May Even Reverse Hearing Loss, by Michael D. Seidman, $18.50

9- Body Signs: From Warning Signs to False Alarms…How to Be Your Own Diagnostic Detective, by Joan Liebmann-Smith, $4.50

10- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model, by Pawel J. Jastreboff, $45.79

Also read:

Finding Tranquility with Tinnitus, Part II: Homeopathy

Amazon.com’s Top 5 Best Selling Phones for the Hearing Impaired

40+ Best Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Sites

New Android Apps from Sprint for the Hearing-Impaired

Free Digital Photos

Do you grind your teeth in the middle of the night?  Symptoms of bruxism disease (nighttime teeth grinding) include tinnitus, jaw pain, headache, and more.

Plagued by phantom tinnitus noise?

If you suffer from constant ringing sounds in your ear, then you might have tinnitus.  Tinnitus is a hearing disorder that causes its victims to hear varying pitches of a variety of sounds in one or both ears, despite the absence of any real outside noise.  There exists no universal cure for tinnitus, but identifying the trigger is helpful for alleviating some of the symptoms.

Possible causes of tinnitus

Often, tinnitus results from hearing loss, either due to old age or because of an ear injury.  Common ear injuries occur when frequently exposed to excessively loud noise decibels, such as explosives, loud engine noise, high-volume concert music, iPod in-ear headphones, or construction noise.  Other causes of tinnitus may include chronic ear infections, drug interactions, punctured eardrums, or bone-structure deformity.

The TMJ connection
There is a high correlation between sufferers of tinnitus, headaches, and bruxism disease, or nighttime teeth grinding.  Bruxism is the result of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), a condition that affects the joints that connect the jawbone with the skull.

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What are the signs and symptoms of bruxism?

1. Loud clenching, grinding noises in your sleep
2. Blunt front teeth that are also chipped or flattened
3. Eroded tooth enamel
4. Chronic toothaches
5. Constant pain and muscular tension in the jaws
6. Jaw muscle fatigue
7. Earaches, or tinnitus
8. Frequent headache
9. Facial pain, achy cheekbones
10. Raised ridge on the inside of your cheeks that corresponds with your bite
11. Tongue sores, tears, or dimples

Free Digital Photos

Related reading:

Is TMJ Causing Your Tinnitus? 7 Exercises to Release Jaw Tension

20 iPad Apps for Hearing Loss

How Loud is Too Loud? Prevent Tinnitus Now

Sources:

TMJ Pain – Grinding Teeth in Sleep – Mouth Guard for Grinding – Real Age

Bruxism/Teeth grinding: Symptoms – MayoClinic.com

Teeth Grinding – How To Stop Teeth Grinding In Sleep (Teeth Clenching)