Suffering from ringing in the ears? Find out the real causes of tinnitus which the pharmaceutical companies are hiding from you.
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 several factors that bring about these problems. Several other triggers which can spark off these causes can also be detected. Since tinnitus can be caused by a multiple set of factors, experts need to be extremely careful while analyzing them. As a case in point, sinus-related complications act only as a trigger, and are not, in itself, one of the underlying reasons of tinnitus. On the other hand, a high level of blood pressure is generally viewed as one of the most important underlying causes of the disease. Such blood pressure problems can be a direct result of an erratic lifestyle led by the person. A heightened level of stress is another cause. These causes of the disease can only be eliminated if a holistic method of treating tinnitus is adopted.
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.
Acoustic neuroma factors : This refers to a tumor which can cause tinnitus. These benign tumors generally form on the nerves of the brain, which extend till the internal portions of the ear, from the brain. These nerves, in their normal state, help a person to retain balance, and also aids in his/her hearing. Vestibular Schwannoma is the alternative name given to these problems, which in most cases, affect one of the ears of the patient.
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.
Accidents affecting the head and/or neck: If these accidents affect the nerves, patients can experience severe neurological problems. The proper way of working of the brain is also affected, and tinnitus problems can result.
Advancement in age : As a person goes beyond 60 years of age, (s)he usually becomes progressively more and more senile. This phenomenon is also known as Presbycusis, and can rob the affected person partially, or even totally, of his/her hearing abilities.
Constantly listening loud sounds : If a person works in stamping mills or forging factories, (s)he is forced to hear continuous sounds at extremely high pitches. Such people are more likely to develop tinnitus and as a result, hear sounds of ringing, even after their work-hours. The guns that have heavy bores have to be fired from the shoulder ” another probable cause of tinnitus. Also, when night clubs dole out band music at full blast, the employees of such places can easily fall prey to tinnitus.
Wax in the ear: If the ear wax levels go beyond a certain level (the normal amounts), tinnitus is a possible outcome in a large number of people.
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.
Neck or head tumors: Such tumors put a very high degree of pressure on the blood vessels of the head and the neck. Also known as vascular neoplasm, these tumors can also result in tinnitus.
Malformation of the Arteriovenous system : If the connecting channels of the arteries and veins are not right, the problem is called AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation). Tinnitus caused due to this factor generally affects one of the ears of individuals.
Cause of Tinnitus ” A Look at Some Medicines With Adverse Effects
There are certain types of medicinal drugs that can bring about tinnitus problems. In fact, some of such medicines can increase the intensity of the disease as well.
The medicines that are generally held responsible for aggravating tinnitus problems can be listed as under:
Various types of antibiotics, including erythromycin, chloramphenicol, bleomycin, tetracycline or vancomycin.
Vincristine, mechlorethamine and such drugs that are used to treat cancer.
Diuretic drugs, namely, ethacrynic acid, bumetanide or furosemide.
Medicines like quinine, that are often used to treat malaria, and similar other health symptoms.
Even aspirin can result in giving rise to constant ringing sounds in the ear, particularly if individuals are in the habit of taking high doses of the medicines, and that too, over a long time.
Tinnitus is often termed as a multilateral disease since it can be caused by a combination of several factors, as has been discussed above. The key to finding an effective solution is in proper identification and elimination of these causes. Conventional methods of treatment generally fail to provide any long-standing relief. This is due to the fact that, such treatments do not make an attempt to locate the chief causes of tinnitus, and treat only the symptoms of the problem. On the other hand, holistic treatments locate the main problem-creating factors and then remove them. The entire body is taken as a single unit in this treatment approach. Medicines prescribed by holistic approaches include herb-based products, and certain changes in the patients lifestyles are also suggested. Over time, these holistic methods have been widely effective for treating tinnitus.