Archive for April, 2010

Is Your Tinnitus Being Cured Of Just Getting Worse?

Thursday, April 29th, 2010
by Sally Kell

Tinnitus is not well understood, there are several likely sources that are known to either trigger or worsen tinnitus. A few of the more common mechanisms are listed below. Exposure to loud noises can damage and even destroy hair cells, called cilia, in the inner ear.

Once damaged, these hair cells cannot be renewed or replaced. Up to 90 percent of all tinnitus patients have some level of hearing loss. With the advent of amplified music, there is an increasing number of young people who already have some degree of tinnitus.

Around 20% of people with tinnitus are less able to successfully ignore it and require special help to break the vicious cycle of attending to it, being bothered by it, spending more time attending to it, becoming more irritated by it, etc. To the point that it is a major issue in their lives. It is this 20% that often seek help from various sources to aid them in coping with the symptom. A number of specific suggestions may be helpful to you in reducing the effects of tinnitus in your daily life. Protect yourself from loud noises. Get adequate rest and avoid getting too tired.

You would be advised to quit smoking, since this can increase the noise and make the condition worse. High intake of caffeine should be strictly avoided since this can cause the condition to worsen. In fact, if you ever notice your ears ringing after taking aspirin, you should not take it again until you’ve spoken to a doctor.

There are a number of support therapies for tinnitus that might provide relief. Learning relaxation and meditative techniques may certainly help, as can doing exercises. Some people benefit from biofeedback and still others swear by acupuncture. If you’re suffering from tinnitus, ask a doctor’s advice about pursuing some of these alternative therapies in addition to traditional medical treatment.

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