Thursday, June 25, 2009

Cause of Tinnitus: Do You Know Why You Have Tinnitus?

By Thomas Colman

After years of research, the main causes of tinnitus are finally revealed. Discover the causes of tinnitus in this article.

When sound waves from outside hit the pint-sized, sensitive hairs located in the inner ear, these hairs react to the pressures of these waves. As a result, electrical signals are emanated, and they are transferred to the brain. The signals are then recognized by the brain as sound. However, in case these hairs suffer any significant damage or mutilation, faulty signals are transmitted to the brain and it generates weird whistling, ringing or whooshing sounds. Since these sounds reach the ears of the affected person, even in the absence of any source of noise, (s)he gets to hear these unusual sounds. Tinnitus is the medical term given to these situations afflicting a person.

There are certain triggers of tinnitus that are often mistaken as the actual causes. An open mind is required while analyzing an extremely problematic disease, like tinnitus, particularly since it can happen from several causes. As an example, let us consider sinus disorders. Such problems are not among the chief underlying factors of tinnitus. Rather, it is only a trigger of the disease. Among the actual, and most important causes of tinnitus is an elevated blood pressure, and this happens due to a wrong lifestyle. These problems can be treated only through the holistic approach.

Cause of Tinnitus: A Brief Overview

Acute depression and excessive stress: If hearing tests do not show any abnormality, and the ear appears to be properly functioning otherwise, stress-related anxiety may be the problem affecting an individual. A healthy way of life, coupled with holistic approaches to treatment, can do away with these problems.

Benign Tumor: Also known as Acoustic Neuroma, these tumors often result in tinnitus as well. The cranial nerve that connects the inner ear with the brain, and helps people hear as well as maintain a perfect balance, usually bears these tumors. They cause tinnitus in one of the ears of patients, and the condition is also known as Vestibular Schwannoma.

Manieres Disease in the inner ear: When this ailment affects the ear, tinnitus can be caused. This medical condition is generally brought about by the pressures of a fluid that is present in the inner ear.

Injuries in the head or the neck: These injuries often affect the way in which the human brain works, and can also damage the nerves in these. Such damages can easily affect the ear too. As a result, a person might develop tinnitus.

Factors related to old age : As a person grows senile, (s)he can totally, or partially, lose his/her powers to listen. This phenomenon becomes apparent after a person crosses 60 years of age, and is medically known as Presbycusis.

Having to hear sounds at high volumes: This is also a probable cause. If a person has to continuously hear noises at extremely high pitches, a constant ringing noise seems to be audible to him/her, even when there exists no such source. For example, this is common in people who are employed in stamping mills or forging jobs. Tinnitus problems can also result from the shot guns that are rather heavy, and have to be placed on the shoulder for firing. Also, if individuals are constantly exposed to the loud beats of music at night clubs, they are prone to tinnitus attacks.

Deposits of ear wax: If ear wax gets accumulated in the ear over time, it might cross the prescribed maximum level. When this limit is crossed, tinnitus problems may crop up.

Atherosclerosis: It refers to cases when deposits of cholesterol constrict the blood vessels of the human body. When the blood vessels of either the middle or the inner portions of the ear are affected, tinnitus can be a direct result. The inherent elasticity that accounts for other cardiac functions are also lost as a result. The affected person hears such auditory impulses as hissing or whooshing noises, apart from other pulsating sounds. Both the ears are affected in such cases.

A high level of blood pressure: This factor brings about tinnitus problems in much the same way as the factor explained above. When cholesterol, in high amounts, gets accumulated on the arteries, the supply of blood to the head and the neck gets reduced. This is the prime reason for the resultant tinnitus attacks. If patients opt for correct, and early, holistic treatments, these problems can be avoided.

Tumor formation in the neck and/or head : The blood vessels of the human neck and head (i.e., the vascular neoplasm) experience an increased pressure due to these tumors. As a result, tinnitus problems may come up.

AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation):This process refers to erroneous contacts between the veins and the arteries and it can be a major cause too. Tinnitus, caused in this manner, affects one of the ears.

Cause of Tinnitus : Can Medicines Be Also Held Responsible?

Medicines of a certain variety can, in fact, give birth to tinnitus problems. The situation can be considerably worsened by consuming some types of drugs as well.

Let is now look into some of the types of drugs that can probably be blamed for tinnitus problems:

Various types of antibiotics, including erythromycin, chloramphenicol, bleomycin, tetracycline or vancomycin.

Vincristine, mechlorethamine and such drugs that are used to treat cancer.

Diuretic medications (e.g., Furosemide, Bumetanide and Ethacrynic acid).

Medicines like quinine, that are often used to treat malaria, and similar other health symptoms.

If a person consumes large quantities of Aspirin, over a long time, (s)he is also likely to hear ringing noises in his/her ear.

All the basic causes of tinnitus have to be properly detected, and then, treated accordingly. Tinnitus can be caused by many reasons and so it is a multi-factorial ailment. However, the conventional remedies do not find out what the causes of the disease might be, and deal only with the symptoms of the problem. Naturally, the relief that they provide are not of a lasting nature. On the contrary, the entire human body is deemed as a single structure under the holistic approaches to treat tinnitus. This approach advises the affected person to change his/her lifestyle, and also recommend certain medicines and other herbal remedies. The holistic methods find out each of the reasons behind the tinnitus problems, and correct the issues. Hence, it is hardly surprising that holistic methods work the best as curative measures for tinnitus. - 14130

About the Author:

No comments: