Let’s set the scene: you’re in your bed at night trying to unwind after a long, tiring day. Your eyelids are starting to get heavy and you recognize that your about to fall asleep. Then as you lie there in the quiet of the night, you start to notice the sound of buzzing in your ears. You’re certain it’s nothing in your bedroom because the TV, radio, and phone are all off. Unfortunately, this noise is in your ears and it won’t stop.
If this scenario sounds familiar, then odds are that you’re one of the 50 million people who suffer from tinnitus. Buzzing, ringing, and a variety of other sounds will be heard inside of your ears when you have this problem. The majority of people suffering from tinnitus think of it as a mere inconvenience; it comes and goes but doesn’t really affect their daily lives. But this is not the situation with everyone who is suffering from tinnitus. For some, it can cause them to Disengage socially, have a hard time working, and to lose sleep.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is still a bit of a mystery, but this condition has been narrowed down to a few causes. It shows up commonly in individuals who have damaged hearing, and also people who have heart conditions. Reduced blood flow around the ears is generally considered to be the main cause of tinnitus. This causes the heart to work harder to pump blood to where it’s needed. People who have iron-deficiency anemia frequently experience tinnitus symptoms since their blood cells don’t carry enough oxygen throughout their body, which, again, makes the heart work overtime to get oxygen and other nutrients where they need to go.
Tinnitus also happens as a symptom of other conditions, like Meniere’s disease, ear infections, and ear canal blockages. Situations where tinnitus becomes more pronounced occur with all of these condition because they all impact the hearing. Sometimes treatment can be difficult when the cause of tinnitus is not evident, but that doesn’t mean treatment is impossible.
What Treatments Are Out There For Tinnitus?
Depending on the root cause of your tinnitus, there may be a number of possible treatment options. One important thing to note, however, is that there is presently no known cure for tinnitus. But these treatments can still offer a good possibility for your tinnitus to get better or disappear altogether.
Studies have revealed that hearing aids help cover up tinnitus in people who suffer from hearing loss.
If covering up the noise isn’t helpful, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to help people deal with the ringing in their ears that does not go away with other treatments. This kind of mental health treatment helps people change their negative ideas about tinnitus into more positive, realistic thoughts that will help them function normally on an every day basis.
