One of my friends often suffers from ringing in her ears at night, and as a result, she often feels sleep deprived.
Lack of sleep is bad enough, but it's worse when phantom noises are what's keeping you awake.
My friend thinks the noises she hears are from the loud rock concerts she attended when she was in her twenties.
She could be right.
While experts don't know exactly what causes this condition, known at tinnitus, exposure to loud noises is considered one of the possible sources of this problem.
Another common cause is damage to cells of the inner ear.
Other causes include circulatory problems, cardiovascular and other diseases, injuries to the head and neck, build-up of ear wax, and certain medications.
People suffering from tinnitus don't always hear ringing in their ears.
It could be chirping, buzzing, swishing, or other kinds of noises.
These are truly phantom noises, because they are noises no one else can hear.
They may be constant, or may appear intermittently.
Either way, it doesn't sound fun.
Tinnitus is more common that you may think.
It affects around 50 million people in the U.
S.
alone and for over 15 million of those sufferers, it's a serious enough problem to seek medical help.
While there are some strategies for both short and long-term relief, there is no cure.
Short-term relief includes • Cutting back on caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea.
Caffeine can raise blood pressure, which causes the sounds to become louder.
• Using a masker, which is similar to a hearing aid.
A masker creates other sounds (white noise) which makes the tinnitus sounds less noticeable.
• Wearing a hearing aid if you suffer from hearing loss and have tinnitus.
Because a hearing aid enhances outside sounds, it helps diminish the phantom sounds.
• Using over-the-counter products that rid the ears of excess wax build-up.
Long-term solutions include protecting your ears from loud noise exposure, since noise worsens the symptoms of tinnitus.
People who have tinnitus and are also suffering from an excess of stress should take steps to deal with that stress, such as counselling.
For those who suffer from depression, along with tinnitus, medications for that condition may help.
Additionally, since tinnitus can be a symptom of other medical condition, addressing the individual condition may lead to some relief.
The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) conducts research, including clinical trials, to pursue a cure for tinnitus symptoms; as well as advocating for funding from the federal government.
If you suffer from tinnitus, or know someone who does, you may want to visit the ATA website for support, resources, and information about the latest research.
Lack of sleep is bad enough, but it's worse when phantom noises are what's keeping you awake.
My friend thinks the noises she hears are from the loud rock concerts she attended when she was in her twenties.
She could be right.
While experts don't know exactly what causes this condition, known at tinnitus, exposure to loud noises is considered one of the possible sources of this problem.
Another common cause is damage to cells of the inner ear.
Other causes include circulatory problems, cardiovascular and other diseases, injuries to the head and neck, build-up of ear wax, and certain medications.
People suffering from tinnitus don't always hear ringing in their ears.
It could be chirping, buzzing, swishing, or other kinds of noises.
These are truly phantom noises, because they are noises no one else can hear.
They may be constant, or may appear intermittently.
Either way, it doesn't sound fun.
Tinnitus is more common that you may think.
It affects around 50 million people in the U.
S.
alone and for over 15 million of those sufferers, it's a serious enough problem to seek medical help.
While there are some strategies for both short and long-term relief, there is no cure.
Short-term relief includes • Cutting back on caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea.
Caffeine can raise blood pressure, which causes the sounds to become louder.
• Using a masker, which is similar to a hearing aid.
A masker creates other sounds (white noise) which makes the tinnitus sounds less noticeable.
• Wearing a hearing aid if you suffer from hearing loss and have tinnitus.
Because a hearing aid enhances outside sounds, it helps diminish the phantom sounds.
• Using over-the-counter products that rid the ears of excess wax build-up.
Long-term solutions include protecting your ears from loud noise exposure, since noise worsens the symptoms of tinnitus.
People who have tinnitus and are also suffering from an excess of stress should take steps to deal with that stress, such as counselling.
For those who suffer from depression, along with tinnitus, medications for that condition may help.
Additionally, since tinnitus can be a symptom of other medical condition, addressing the individual condition may lead to some relief.
The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) conducts research, including clinical trials, to pursue a cure for tinnitus symptoms; as well as advocating for funding from the federal government.
If you suffer from tinnitus, or know someone who does, you may want to visit the ATA website for support, resources, and information about the latest research.
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