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Cause of Tinnitus: A Brief Overview Of The Reasons For Tinnitus

Posted on 06. Jul, 2009 by Thomas Colman in Health

Ex tinnitus sufferer and medical researcher reveals the real causes of tinnitus in this article.

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 Closer Look At Some Causal Factors

Excess stress-levels or a depressed state of mind: Tinnitus can occur even when one or both the ears is apparently okay, and medical tests also do nothing to prove otherwise. Such problems, brought about by excessive stress, can be solved only via a holistic approach to treatment, and adoption of a healthy lifestyle.

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.

Factors related to Menieres disease: Tinnitus is also often brought about by this problem, which affects the functioning of the internal regions of the ear. A characteristic ear fluid exerts pressure, and this, in many cases can be a direct cause of tinnitus.

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.

Having to hear sounds at high volumes: This is also a probable cause. If a person has to continuously hear noises at extremely high pitches, a constant ringing noise seems to be audible to him/her, even when there exists no such source. For example, this is common in people who are employed in stamping mills or forging jobs. Tinnitus problems can also result from the shot guns that are rather heavy, and have to be placed on the shoulder for firing. Also, if individuals are constantly exposed to the loud beats of music at night clubs, they are prone to tinnitus attacks.

Amount of ear wax : There is a maximum limit till which ear wax can accumulate within the ears. When the deposits of ear wax go beyond this limit, tinnitus is a likely outcome.

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.

Blood pressure related issues : The level of blood pressure can go up considerably due to the presence of excessive amounts of cholesterol in the arteries. In a logic similar to the one discussed above, these deposits bring down the supply of blood to the neck and the head, thereby causing tinnitus. However, holistic treatments can solve these problems at an early stage.

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.

Improper formation of Arteriovenous connections : Many people suffer from tinnitus problems that originate from an incorrect formation of the connections that bind the arteries and the veins. When, arteriovenous malformation (AVM) occurs, tinnitus generally affects one of the ears of the patient.

Cause of Tinnitus: Certain Medicines Also Play A Part

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.

Cancer-treating drugs (e.g. Vincristine and Mechlorethamine).

Diuretic drugs, namely, ethacrynic acid, bumetanide or furosemide.

Quinine drugs, which are widely prescribed to treat malarial problems, and other diseases of a similar nature.

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.

The term multilateral disorder is associated with tinnitus precisely due to the fact that, it can be caused by many factors. All the underlying reasons of the problems have to be properly detected so that a cure from the disease can be obtained. However, conventional modes of medications seldom reach deep enough to detect the chief problem-creating factors. Only the symptoms of the disease are treated, accounting for the extremely low rate of success. Unlike these methods, the holistic mode of treatment considers the entire body to be a single unit, and suggest medicines accordingly. Wholesale lifestyle changes as well as the application of products derived from herbs are recommended. Since the holistic way of treating tinnitus tries to locate the major causes of the problem, and then treat them accordingly, it has met with widespread success.