Tinnitus is the medical term for noises or “ringing” in the ears. If you experience tinnitus, you “hear” sounds that no outside source creates. They can be loud or soft noises that sound like ringing, humming, whistling, hissing, buzzing, roaring, blowing or sizzling. They can also sound like musical notes, running water, or the inside of a seashell. Nearly everyone experiences tinnitus occasionally; most of the time, it occurs in a mild form that is barely noticeable. If the noise is constant or recurring, however, it can cause stress or make it hard for you to focus or sleep.
Tinnitus Defined
Tinnitus is a symptom rather than a condition. It usually indicates an underlying condition such as an ear infection or injury, age-related hearing loss, or a circulatory system disorder. Tinnitus often worsens with age, but it can improve with treatment. To treat it, however, you must identify the cause. This is not always easy since it is still unclear why people “hear” noises with no outside sources. Knowing the risk factors, however, can help you find ways to treat the problem.
Risk Factors
Five common risk factors determine your chances of experiencing tinnitus: age, gender, smoking, cardiovascular problems, and loud noise exposure. As you age, your ears have fewer functioning nerves. This contributes to the hearing problems often associated with tinnitus. Men are more likely than women to experience tinnitus, and smokers have a greater risk than nonsmokers.
Cardiovascular problems can also increase your tinnitus risk. Medical conditions that affect your blood flow can cause you to hear annoying sounds in your head. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is one example. Atherosclerosis, or narrowed arteries, is another example of a cardiovascular condition that can cause auditory issues.
Prolonged exposure to loud noise is likely the top risk factor for tinnitus. Loud sounds can damage the sensory hairs in your ears that transmit sound signals to your brain. If you are a musician, soldier, construction worker, or factory worker, you have a high risk of developing tinnitus.
Treatments
Once you know the risk factors and possible causes of tinnitus, you can look for treatment options. Prevention is the best treatment, as the saying goes. Over-the-ear hearing protection or simply turning down the volume of noises can prevent some forms of tinnitus. Treating cardiovascular problems is another good precautionary measure.
When medical conditions are the cause for tinnitus, treatments for the underlying condition may lessen the noises you hear in your head. Hearing aids, white noise machines, and other noise suppression tools can also help. For severe tinnitus or complications related to this symptom, your doctor may prescribe medications.
