Millions of people report that they periodically or constantly hear tinnitus, while there is no sound source. The cause of this ailment lies in various violations and in each case requires a different approach. And although there are some methods by which tinnitus can be eliminated, the reason for this condition in other cases is unremovable and, perhaps, a person will always endure these sensations.
Noise, hum, clicks and ringing can be strong or barely distinguishable, can cause constant irritation and insomnia, and can only occasionally appear.
Causes of Tinnitus
Doctors note that there are several most common factors that cause such discomfort:
• Narrowing of blood vessels in the brain, atherosclerosis of blood vessels caused by the presence of sclerotic plaques that impede the movement of blood. In these cases, the patient hears the turbulent movement of blood through the vessels. Such disorders can be diagnosed by examining brain vessels . Often patients with hypertension report a noise in the head.
• Inflammation in the hearing aid, in particular inflammation of the auditory nerve. This disorder is usually caused by a chronic condition, such as tonsillitis. A person feels monotonous noises, sometimes ringing or squeaking. The examination is carried out using a technique called evoked brain potentials.
• Inflammation in the tendons and joints located on the border of the neck and head.
• Susceptibility and sensitivity to auditory sensations, which can be caused by stress and nervous exhaustion of the body.
• The presence of foreign bodies in the ear canal.
• Anemia.
• Meniere's disease - a tumor inside the passage, this ailment is accompanied by dizziness and hearing loss.
• Tinnitus may occasionally occur, the cause of which is drinking alcohol, taking medications (antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, antidepressants, drugs for treating cancer and high doses of aspirin) or the effects of caffeine.
• Sulfur plugs.
• The effects of very loud sounds on the hearing aid.
• Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear - otosclerosis.
• Hearing aid.
• Head injury.
• Brain tumor.
If you feel tinnitus, the cause of which is still unclear, you should consult a doctor.
The following symptoms may be disturbing:
• Noise causes very strong inconvenience.
• Noise lasts a long time.
• Noise returns regularly.
Treatment should begin with a diagnosis and seek help only from specialists. Only a doctor can determine what treatment you need - a simple therapy with anti-inflammatory drugs or a complex operation.
The accompanying symptoms are the following conditions:
• Dizziness.
• Discharge is observed from one or both ears.
• Pain in the ears is accompanied by noise.
• Headache.
• Increased body temperature.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Redness in the area of the auricles.
How does the sensation of “tinnitus” occur?
The reason is the malfunction of cells that perceive sound waves. These cells are part of thin hairs located in the ear canals.
If the hairs are damaged, then the brain perceives the electrical impulses from the vibrations of these cells as sounds.
Beware of complications
Tinnitus is not harmless. There are times that this phenomenon is caused by a very serious illness that affects not only the deterioration in the quality of human life, but also on life itself. In the case of the timely start of treatment of such dangerous diseases as brain cancer or infection, much can be done to improve the patient's condition.
Therefore, never neglect alarms, one of which is tinnitus - it is important to establish the causes as early as possible.