Tinnitus

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is the sensation of hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling or other sounds. The noise can be intermittent or continuous, and can also vary in loudness. It is often worse when background noise is low, so you may be most aware of it at night when you're trying to fall asleep in a quiet room. In rare cases, the sound beats in sync with your heart. For most people the condition is merely an annoyance. In severe cases, however, Tinnitus can cause people to have difficulty concentrating and sleeping. It may eventually interfere with work and personal relationships, resulting in psychological distress. Although Tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, it does not cause the loss; nor does a hearing loss cause Tinnitus. In fact, some people with Tinnitus experience no difficulty hearing, and in a few cases they even become so acutely sensitive to sound that they must take steps to muffle or mask external noises.

• A noise in the ears, such as ringing, roaring, buzzing, hissing or whistling; the noise may be intermittent or continuous.
• Hearing loss
  

Prevention in Tinnitus is not applicable.

A wide variety of conditions and illnesses can lead to Tinnitus. Blockages of the ear due to a buildup of wax, an infection, or rarely, a tumor of the auditory nerve can cause the unwanted sounds, as can a perforated eardrum. But perhaps the most common source of chronic Tinnitus is prolonged exposure to loud sounds. The noise causes permanent damage to the sound-sensitive cells of the cochlea, a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear. Carpenters, pilots, rock musicians and street-repair workers are among those whose jobs put them at risk, as are people who work with chain saws, guns or other loud devices or who repeatedly listen to loud music. A single exposure to a sudden extremely loud noise has also been known to cause Tinnitus. Certain drugs - most notably aspirin, several types of antibiotics and quinine medications can contribute to the condition as well. In fact, Tinnitus is cited as a potential side effect for about 200 prescription and nonprescription drugs. The natural process of aging can result in a deterioration of the cochlea or other parts of the ear and lead to Tinnitus. Tinnitus is also associated with Meniere's disease, a disorder of the inner ear, and, a degenerative disease of the small bones in the middle ear. Other medical conditions that can cause ringing in the ears include high blood pressure, allergies, anemia and an under active thyroid. Tinnitus can also be a symptom of a disorder of the neck or jaw, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. For reasons not yet entirely clear to researchers, stress seems to worsen Tinnitus.

In order to diagnose this condition your doctor will give you a general physical exam, including a careful examination of your ears. Be sure to inform your doctor of all medications you are taking. If the source of the problem remains unclear, you may be sent to an etiologist or an otolaryngologist (both ear specialists) or an audiologist (a hearing specialist) for hearing and neurological tests. As part of your examination, you may be given a balance test called an electronystagmography. This is an imaging technique, such as an MRI or a CT scan, which might reveal a structural problem.

• Reduce dietary fats, cholesterol and mucous- forming foods. Avoid refined sugars, heavy starches and concentrated foods.
• Eat light to hear better - plenty of vegetable proteins, sprouts, whole grains, fruits, and cultured foods.
• Take fresh grated horseradish in a spoon with lemon juice. Hang over a sink to release excess mucous and clear head passages.
• Take a good hearing vitamin mix- one of each
  1. Emulsified A 25,000IU 
  2. Ester C with bioflavonoids 
  3. Mezotrace MULTIMINERAL
  4. Methionine
  5. Glutamine 500mg
• Ginkgo biloba extract 2-3x daily 
• Mullein oil drops in the ears for 2 weeks to relieve pain

• Make sure your family and friends are aware of your ailment and that they avoid acts that could aggravate your condition
• Avoid smoke filled areas

• Massage neck, ear, and temples. Pull ear lobes- top front and back to clear passages pf excess wax or mucous.
• Use dilute 3% H2o O2 to gently clean out excess earwax or obstructions.
• Avoid continuous loud noise. (Listening to loud rock music through head phones on a regular basis results in major ear problems.
  For ringing in the ears:
  1. Avoid high doses of aspirin
  2. Massage the ear as above 
  3. Acupressure: stroke gently downward from top of the temple to the bottom of the cheek with the nails for 30 seconds on each side.