What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a chronic condition characterized by never-ending ringing or similar noises in one or both ears. Subjective tinnitus noises aren’t caused by external sounds – thus, other people can’t hear them. Although it’s common (affecting between 15% and 20% of people to some extent). It can be tough to live with and difficult to treat for long-term comfort.
Objective tinnitus, or tinnitus in which the noises are audible to other people in addition to the patient, is comparatively rare, appearing in less than 1% of tinnitus cases.
Tinnitus can cause a variety of noises in the ears, including buzzing, ringing, clicking, humming, hissing, whistling, and more. Tinnitus noise levels can vary from low sounds to very high-pitched screeches. This can cause excessive discomfort or even physical pain.
Depending on the individual, tinnitus may be present at all times or it can come and go. While many individuals experience temporary tinnitus after a loud concert or being exposed to loud sounds, chronic tinnitus is an ongoing issue throughout one’s life.
It may also be triggered by certain sounds, head positions, and more. Certain individuals have pulsatile tinnitus, which occurs when tinnitus sounds recur in time with one’s heartbeat.
Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is very common in part because it can be caused by a wide variety of health conditions or injuries. Tinnitus is commonly caused by:
- Hearing loss – the inner ear receives sound thanks to tiny and delicate hair cells that trigger signals along your auditory nerve. If the hairs inside the interior are bent or broken, they may cause random tinnitus sounds by transmitting electrical impulses to the brain.
- Head or neck injuries can affect the inner ear and cause trauma.
- Ear infections or ear canal blockages can change the pressure inside the ear and cause tinnitus.
- Certain medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, diuretics, or aspirin could cause or worsen tinnitus.
- Obesity makes it harder for your heart to pump blood throughout the body and can lead to high blood pressure. This may lead to an increased risk of developing hearing loss.
Other common causes of tinnitus include temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, diabetes, muscle spasms in the inner ear, blood vessel disorders, repeated loud noise exposure, and even certain chronic conditions like thyroid disorders or multiple sclerosis.
Natural Remedies for Tinnitus
There are lots of ways in which one can get tinnitus or have their condition worsened. There are also many methods individuals can use to treat or even eliminate their symptoms.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is actively seeking a cure for tinnitus. It has suggested multiple techniques to reduce the effects of tinnitus such as sound therapy, relaxation techniques, or the use of hearing aid devices.
It’s important to note that some remedies are only appropriate for treating tinnitus caused by one or more specific issues, such as diabetes.
1. Reduce Blood Pressure
In some individuals, high blood pressure can directly lead to tinnitus. High blood pressure causes blood vessels in the ears to swell and potentially break. When this occurs, the tiny hairs inside the inner ears can bend or break and cause tinnitus sounds.
Reduce your blood pressure through regular exercise and a good diet. This is the best way to ensure that you don’t experience this or any other related conditions.
2. Use Breathing Techniques
Certain breathing techniques like box breathing and paced breathing can help you work through sudden tinnitus pain. Breathing techniques also relax muscles in your neck and head to lower the likelihood of tinnitus pain.
3. Vagus Nerve Stimulation
The vagus nerve is the longest of your body’s 12 cranial nerves. It carries lots of signals from organs, your digestive system, and other body parts to the brain and back. It serves as a kind of nerve signal superhighway.
There is evidence suggesting that using headphones to stimulate the vagus nerve can trigger the release of neurochemicals in the brain. This is thought to help to decrease hyperactivity in the ears. Over time, this may fully treat tinnitus in certain individuals depending on the root cause of their condition.
4. Eat Specific Foods
Some foods can help you treat tinnitus symptoms if taken regularly. These include Apple Cider Vinegar – a “superfood” that rebalances the gut microbiome and boosts gut health overall – beets, garlic, and pomegranate.
These foods can improve your immune system, gut health, and more.
5. Reduce Inflammation
Inflammatory foods and beverages can be terrible for your overall health and can lead to both metabolic and nervous system side effects.
Try to reduce inflammatory foods like excess sugar or saturated fat. These foods increase cardiovascular health and increase your risk of developing secondary health issues that could lead to tinnitus over time.
6. Lower Insulin Levels
Some individuals develop tinnitus because of diabetes. If this is the case for you, treating diabetes by lowering insulin levels or lowering insulin resistance can also lead to tinnitus relief.
In some cases, tinnitus can be triggered by sudden changes in blood sugar.
7. Try Fasting
Similarly, some individuals experience tinnitus because their brain is overstimulated due to elevated metabolic processes or gut microbiome issues.
Fasting can help to reregulate blood sugar levels and your body’s metabolic processes, settling the nervous system and potentially treating minor to moderate tinnitus symptoms.
8. HIIT Workouts
HIIT or high-intensity interval training is a great type of exercise overall, not just for treating tinnitus. When practiced regularly, HIIT workouts can boost your cardiovascular health and keep the blood vessels throughout your body healthy.
This may reduce the likelihood of you developing tinnitus due to obesity or other blood vessel disorders. Dr. Livingood has some basic HIIT workouts to try out if you want to see if this exercise is right for you!
Summary
Ultimately, tinnitus can be treated over time using many of the remedies and therapeutic techniques described above. However, it’s also a good idea to speak to a doctor to get fully diagnosed and determine the root cause of your tinnitus before practicing any of the above solutions.
Check out Dr. Livingood’s site today and see how we can help you tackle your tinnitus!
Sources
Understanding the Facts | American Tinnitus Association
What Is Tinnitus? — Causes and Treatment | NIDCD
Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears and what to do about it | Harvard
Tinnitus: 5 Strange Reasons for Ringing Ears | Cleveland Clinic
