Tinnitus is a complex hearing condition that can hamper a person’s lifestyle. This illness comes from a wide range of causes and risk factors in many cases.
However, some healthy people also report having tinnitus out of nowhere. If you continue to suffer from tinnitus and don’t get it treated, it could lead to permanent hearing loss.
For better care of your ear health, it’s essential to learn more about what tinnitus is.
The Basics of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the medical term for the ringing sensation in the ears. While it can come in different shapes and forms, its symptoms include buzzing, squeaking, clicking, roaring, chirping, beeping, humming, or hissing sounds.
Possible Causes of Tinnitus
The causes of ringing in the ears are not always clear. However, four common factors can trigger tinnitus:
1. Medications
Certain common medications play a role in causing tinnitus. For instance, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, and anti-seizure drugs are some of the top medicines that can result in tinnitus.
2. Heart Problems
Some people with heart problems also experience tinnitus. The likely cause is the extra pressure on the blood vessels of the middle ear, which may affect hearing abilities.
3. Head Injuries
Another common cause of tinnitus is head injury. However, most of the time, having tinnitus after an injury or a concussion dissipates after a few weeks.
4. Ear Disorders
Ear canal infections, especially otitis media and otosclerosis, are two of the top reasons for tinnitus. A range of ear issues can also create tinnitus, including earwax buildup, impacted earwax, ear infections, affected ear bones, and sudden ear injury.
Risk Factors Associated with Tinnitus
In many cases, people who develop tinnitus don’t know what causes it. But in some cases, a few factors can raise the possibility of developing this condition. Here are the top risk factors associated with tinnitus:
1. .Lifestyle Choices
How you live your life can affect most of your health, including your ears. Smoking and alcohol consumption are lifestyle habits that can increase your risk of developing tinnitus. For instance, smoking puts more stress on the inner ear, and drinking alcohol can damage the nerves responsible for hearing.
2. Regular Exposure to Loud Noise
Repeated exposure to loud noise is another risk factor that can trigger tinnitus. Working in an industrial field or regularly going to loud concerts can harm your ears. Even sound waves in the environment like traffic, construction, and ringing doorbells can increase your risk of developing tinnitus.
3. Old Age
As you get older, your ears can start experiencing natural damage. As you continue to lose your hearing abilities, your risk of experiencing tinnitus also increases.
Final Thoughts
Tinnitus is a hearing condition that can be difficult to treat and manage. However, it shouldn’t become a hindrance to your lifestyle and overall health.
It’s also important to note that the causes of tinnitus are different in every person. Therefore, you should visit a doctor or an audiologist to get your tinnitus properly diagnosed so that you can take the right actions to recover and restore your hearing to normal.
Learn more about your ear health by taking hearing tests in Lexington, Greater Boston, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island through Hear More Associates. Our ear health experts will help you determine if you are experiencing problems and find hearing care solutions to help you stay healthy. Get in touch with us today to book an appointment!
