Latest Articles About Tinnitus

What Is Tinnitus?

For those who have visited Madison Square Garden in the New York City to hear Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 in C minor on a New Year’s Eve, the music must have remained with them for a few brief minutes even after it had stopped playing in the vast arena. Well, this is quite normal. Beethoven’s composition lingers long in the ears after the music has actually stopped. But if that continues till the next morning and persists thereafter that calls for a medical check up which will invariably diagnose it as a case of Tinnitus. And there is nothing outstanding or exceptional about it since millions of Americans suffer from Tinnitus and they keep suffering since no cure for tinnitus has yet been found.

Even though the word has been derived from the Latin expression tinnitus, which means‘ringing’, the sound heard by the affected person vary a lot. It may range from hissing, whooshing, ticking, clicking to humming, droning, whining and buzzing. In short, it is enough to drive a person crazy, looking for relief from pillar to post.

What is Tinnitus and what are its various types?

Clinically speaking, tinnitus represents any ringing or buzzing in the ear not resulting from an external stimulus. However, there are several forms of tinnitus, each one of them capable of thoroughly disrupting the life of the patient. There is subjective tinnitus where the ringing or the wheezing is heard by the patient alone and objective tinnitus in which the doctor can also hear the noise by using acoustic instruments. Some of these are unilateral (can be heard in one ear) or bilateral where it is heard in both the ears. Persons suffering from Pulsatile Tinnitus can hear their own heartbeats while Somatic Tinnitus resonances lie outside the ear, probably beyond the cochlear nerves and is believed to arise from central crosstalk within the grey matters. Chronic Sinusitis Tinnitus could be a nasty customer, being caused by thickened mucus trapped within the middle ear space from which it is difficult to drain the mucus out.

Here are some of the underlying causes of tinnitus…

1. Atherosclerotic Carotid Artery Disease in which the arteries become narrowed due to heavy cholesterol buildup that result in uneven blood flow to the head and neck area. This gives rise to agonizing heartbeat sounds that can be heard in the ears of the tinnitus patient. Mostly associated with elderly patients having history of diabetes, hypertension, angina pectoris as well as persistent high blood pressure.
2. Benign Intracranial hypertension may also cause Tinnitus (Pulsatile?). This is exemplified by heightened pressure in the cerebrospinal fluid that covers the brain. Usual victims are young obese females.
3. Damaged nerve, particularly the nerve that runs between the brain and the ear.
4. Glomus tumor that consists of bunches of tissues and entangled blood vessels in the ear or the immediate surrounding area can become a cause of tinnitus. Young people often opt for surgical help while surgery is not recommended for the elderly as these tumors are extremely slow in growth.
5. Intracranial vascular lesion often causes tinnitus of aneurism and arteri-venous malformation or deformity that is usually typified by abnormal or irregular connection between the artery and the vein. This often results in arterial blood entering straight into the vein without going through the capillaries. The situation, as may be appreciated is rather grave, not only resulting in Tinnitus but also turning towards hemorrhage in the brain causing fatal consequences.
6. Middle ear effusion generally causes Pulsatile Tinnitus in middle aged patients. Accumulation of excess fluid in the middle ear due to inflammation in the Eustachian tubes causing blockage of the escape route and infection in the middle ear and further collection f fluid there gives rise unusual noise in the ear resembling pulse beats.
7. Meniere’s Disease is one of the commonest causes of tinnitus. It is related to a host of inner ear disorders, believed to be triggered by nonconforming inner ear fluid pressure.
8. In many cases, when so specific cause for tinnitus can be found after hearing tests are carried out, the blame can be put on depression and stress.
9. Acoustic Neuroma that consists of a benign tumor is often found responsible for causing this disorder. It usually occurs on the cranial nerve that runs from the brain to the inner ear and interferes with controlling of balance, giving rise to vertigo and related complications. Also known as Vestibular Schwannoma, it affects only one ear in most cases.
10. Incessant exposure to earsplitting noise is considered as the commonest cause for tinnitus.

Now that tinnitus have become a fully open book for anyone to take lesson from, it is time to see how best to cure it. Unfortunately that database is lying absolutely blank as no known conventional method of addressing the underlying causes of the disease condition has yet been found out. What actually happens is that, conventional treatments just treat the symptoms, without really finding out the root causes and thus, the symptoms often come back, as soon as the effect of the treatment wanes. The only way tinnitus can be tamed permanently is through a holistic regime that may involve total change of lifestyle and many others. Ask any sufferer, he/she will instantly agree to do so in exchange for a lifetime relief.
 

  Unilateral Pulsatile Tinnitus

To understand it better, let us take the headline apart and see the result at once. Unilateral stands for hearing the buzzing in one ear (bilateral involves both the ears); pulsatile stands for pulse-like sound effect while tinnitus represents all those tinkling, hissing. whooshing, roaring, tingling sounds that are heard by the affected person day in day out, turning him/her crazy like hell. Rejoining the title head we find the picture in its entirety where the person suffering from pulsatile tinnitus hears the resonance of his/her own heartbeat from which the name of the disease has been taken.  However, the reason behind this strange phenomenon is erratic or constricted blood flow in the arteries that run through the head and neck region of the patient which sometimes correspond to the beating of the heart.

Unilateral pulsatile tinnitus falls under the category of subjective tinnitus in which the sound is heard only by the affected person and no one else. Detailed studies have revealed that it is usually associated with otologic disorders having two basic types of hearing problems – Conductive and Sensorineural. While the first one relates to inhibition of sound transmission to the inner ear, the later results from infection, disease condition or abnormality found in the inner ear. The uncommunicativeness can be triggered through a number of factors that comprise inflammation of the external acoustic canal from the otis externa, perforation of the tympanic membrane, cerumen impaction, collection of excessive fluid or discharge in the middle ear, etc. It may also happen due to otosclerosis, signifyingabnormalities in the ossicular bone chain. Of course, problems arising out of the cochlear part of the 8th cranial nerve should not be ruled out in this matter. NIHL or Noise-induced Hearing Loss and presbycusis (progressive loss of hearing with advancing age) are some of the common etiological factors responsible for this kind of hearing loss.

Unilateral Pulsatile Tinnitus – some of the causes

Though there is hardly any fatality factor associated with unilateral pulsatile tinnitus, it can, nonetheless be caused by heightened pressure in the head (hydrocephalus) as well as hardening of the arteries, both considered to be lethal in terms of medical science. However, one of the causative factors resulting in unilateral pulsatile tinnitus can be linked to the carotid artery and the jugular vein, both of which are located fairly close to the inner ear and so are likely to conduct noise to it. Sometimes a vericosal vein structure can also transmit beating sound to the middle ear, resembling heartbeat. A rather rare but plausible cause that may give rise to the beating sound is ‘dehiscence’ that is the missing bone of the jugular vein and an unusually formed carotid artery. This part of the information has seemingly been gleaned from a post mortem examination conducted on person suffering from unilateral pulsatile tinnitus. Apart from such complex issues, unilateral pulsatile tinnitus is also caused due to hyperthyroidism, below normal blood viscosity and poor and erratic blood flow in the head and neck region.

How does unilateral pulsatile tinnitus affect the victim

Very unenviably indeed! The patient suffers from two different kinds of ailment. While one type makes him/her suffer from giddiness, loss of balance and unilateral feeling of heaviness in the ear, the other subjects the person to hear his/her own heartbeat day in and day out 24 x 7.

On top of all that there is no hope of recovery unless one opts for Holistic way of treatment which is rather rigid, having no room for tomfoolery. However, here are some of the basics, cited for the benefit of the readers. It involves some of the following and many more

• Elimination of meat and/or meat-based food items, viz. ham, bacon, sausages, salami, beef, pork and other kinds of exotic meat dishes.
• Elimination of tinned or processed food
• Elimination of fried and spicy food
• Elimination of fast food
• Discarding alcohol or alcohol-based beverages
• Consuming fruits and vegetables on regular basis
• Eating fibrous food like whole grain bread, organic food and dry fruit
• Practicing Yoga and deep breathing
• Following less stressful lifestyle.

If someone follows what has been mentioned above, the person can get a cure from the factors that go on to cause unilateral pulsating tinnitus, which is…

• Sinusitis in acute form
• Tension and stress
• Damage to the cochlear nerve

This sure will lead to a healthful physical state that would take care of the three factors (acute sinusitis; stress and tension and cochlear nerve damage) that are responsible for unilateral pulsating tinnitus. However, one should bear in mind that in Holistic method of treatment the body is treated as a whole in order to identify and locate the root causes of the disease condition and then specify the appropriate remedy. Conventional medicine, on the other hand, put emphasis on the symptoms, ignoring the root cause of the disease and that is precisely why the holistic remedy is ideal fro treating unilateral pulsatile tinnitus.

Tinnitus Home Remedies

Sad to say, but the fact remains that there is no sure fire cure for that undeviating ringing in the ears –the agonizing ailment that affects a great majority of Americans and is commonly known as tinnitus. However, the TV and the added media wouldn’t hear of it.

They believe in beating the drums of sundry pharmaceutical agents, provoking the sufferer to go for OTC medications which alas have more harmful side-effects than any real relief. Frustrated sufferers who have heard of herbal remedies often seek respite from gingko bilboa or black cohosh, both said to improve blood circulation in the upper torso and thus provide relief. But these too can never cure the disorder, merely providing marginal relief. Since homeopathy has currently reappeared as one of the most effective alternate mode of treatment for many, tinnitus patients often rush for it in the hope of gaining genuine relief and when that fails too, the only way that is left is the good old home remedy to bank upon.

The trouble with over-the-counter medications, as earlier said, concerns its side effects that often prove disastrous in most cases. These include head reeling, nausea, acute constipation, exhaustion, vertigo, loss of control and may also lead to that unenviable corporeal vulnerability called the Irregular Bowel Syndrome. So far as other alternative treatment courses are concerned that include hypnosis and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture or magnet therapy, the last word is frequently denoted by a zilch. 

Nevertheless, the home remedy for tinnitus could prove effective only if the causes could match its parameters. And for doing this one has to figure out what mostly causes tinnitus. The causative factors, nevertheless, could be a single issue or multiple trigger factors that give rise to tinnitus. For better understanding of the subject, a list of some of the significant factors is given below.

Consistent exposure to earsplitting noise occurring at missile test firing grounds, steel stamping or forging units, high power rifle shooting ranges or metal fabrication workshops frequently end up with tinnitus in single or both ears. Listening to high volume rock music for days on end has also caused tinnitus to many.

Inadequate blood supply in the upper torso on account of narrowing of blood vessels in that region due to cholesterol can also trigger tinnitus in people suffering from high blood. One of the most distinctive examples of this type of listening problem relates to pulsatile tinnitus where the patient can hear his/her own heartbeat.

Even certain types of food and drink like the grain-based alcohols, red wine, chocolates and cheeses can trigger tinnitus in many people who would never have suspected that unholy link between those innocuous consumables and tinnitus.

Some types of jawbone joint problems, especially Temporomandibular Jaw Joint problem, it has lately been found, can cause tinnitus in many patients.

Prolonged use of NSAIDs, cancer resisting therapies and some of the loop diuretics are known causes of tinnitus.

Tumors, non-cancerous growths or allergies near to the ears or occurring in principal blood vessels carrying blood to the head or neck region can trigger tinnitus in people who are susceptible to such conditions.

·         Tinnitus related hearing loss.

·         Microscopic ending damages that may happen to the nerves that is responsible for hearing.

·         When the bones in the middle portion of the ear hardens.

·         Middle ear infection that causes filling up of the space with fluid or discharge and even too much of ear wax buildup causes tinnitus in many cases.

Even though some Tinnitus Home Remedies are supposed to provide enduring relief to this distressing disorder, most sadly enough are nothing but voodoos. Yet for the sake of identification, some of these are listed below. These include:-

·         Much hyped gingko bilboa that is known to have that special trait to help rush blood and thus encourage better circulation in the head and neck region, lack of which triggers tinnitus is believed to provide relief to the disease condition in a more positive way.

·         Bayberry bark, burdock root, hawthorn leaf, goldenseal and myrrh gum are some of the best known relief providers for tinnitus patients.

·         Freshly cut pineapple rings that are believed to have inflammation reducing properties are thought to perk up the blood circulation in the head and neck region, thus relieving tinnitus symptoms.

·         Coenzyme Q 10, taken at the rate of 300 mg per day can also improve the upper torso blood circulation by raising the immune system significantly which in turn would provide relief to tinnitus.

·         A teaspoon of common salt mixed with the same quantity of glycerin and sprayed into the nose and throat is supposed to give respite to tinnitus suffers who are probably considered blessed or lucky.

·         Raw garlic taken daily can also offer respite from tinnitus.

Tinnitus Home remedies, can work effectively only when they function as a component of Holistic Remedies meant for curing tinnitus for good

No matter how much freshly cut pineapple rings one may consume or take concoctions of gingko or black cohosh on a daily or monthly basis, there will never arise any appreciable relief to tinnitus for the simple reason that none of these address the disease condition in any form whatsoever. What these actually do is to deaden the symptoms for a short while and as soon as the provisional therapy is withdrawn, quick marches the symptoms. Holistic remedies, on the other hand, treat the body as a whole, seldom bothering with the symptoms. Symptoms are mere manifestation of the disease condition and when this is permanently alienated from the body, symptoms die a natural death. Holistic remedies, as a matter of fact, go much below the surface in order to identify the root causes that have created the disorder and then specify the appropriate range of medications that may include change of food habits and if necessary, change of lifestyle, acupuncture, acupressure and aerobics. But one may do well to bear in mind that home remedies, whether herbal or otherwise will only work when they form a part of holistic remedies – seldom on their own.