Tinnitus

TINNITUS, A CONDITION that causes noises in the ear, is a truly perplexing problem. People who suffer from it hear ringing, buzzing, clicking or roaring in their ears even in the dead of a silent night. As you might imagine, it can be distracting and troubling. In most cases, it is difficult to determine precise cause, but the following factors can contribute to the problem. The longer tinnitus is ignored, the more difficult it is to remedy.

Loud noises can cause tinnitus. If you’re regularly exposed to construction noise, loud music, or gunshots, you’re more likely to develop the condition. Loud noises can actually damage the ear itself; it’s important for people who are routinely exposed to protect their ears. This won’t cure tinnitus once you’ve developed it, but it will help prevent it.

High blood pressure and hyperthyroidism can cause tinnitus; if you have or suspect either, you need to get them under control. Discuss hyperthyroidism with your doctor. In addition, Meniere’s syndrome can cause it.

A common cause of tinnitus and the most simple to remedy is an accumulation of earwax. Once the wax is removed, the sound will disappear.

If removing earwax doesn’t solve the problem, get a thorough examination by an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Sometimes tinnitus is caused by a tumor affecting a nerve inside the ear. Surgery can remove the tumor-which can be dangerous in any case-and eliminate symptoms.

Some people who suffer from tinnitus are reacting to salicylates, anti-inflammatory agents including aspirin, analgesics (pain relievers), and antipyretics (fever-lowering agents). Many over-the-counter as well as prescription medications contain salicylates. If you take any drug that contains salicylates regularly-aspirin being the most common-you should investigate whether this is causing your tinnitus. If possible (after discussion with your doctor), eliminate the drug for a period of time to see if it has any effect. Salicylates also occur naturally in foods such as almonds, apples, apricots, blackberries, boysenberries, cherries, cucumbers and pickles, currants, dewberries, gooseberries, grapes or raisins, nectarines, oranges, peaches, plums or prunes, raspberries, strawberries, and tomatoes.

Other drugs that can cause tinnitus include atropine sulfate, caffeine, chloroquine, Flexeril, ergotamine derivatives, nicotine, Talwin, quinidine, and quinine.

You’ll notice that I mentioned both caffeine and nicotine in the list of drugs that can cause tinnitus. Smoking or drinking too much coffee can cause tinnitus. Stop smoking. Eliminate caffeine-from coffee, sodas, medications, and chocolate-for at least a week to see if your symptoms are affected.

Diet can play a role in tinnitus. Both a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet can reduce the flow of oxygen to the inner ear. Studies have shown that many patients with unexplained tinnitus who adopted a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet found a reduction in their symptoms.

Low blood sugar has also been implicated in tinnitus. If you think this might be true for you, on how to stabilize your blood sugar through diet and chromium supplementation.

Vitamin A is closely associated with the health of’ the inner ear. Many studies have shown that people with low levels of vitamin A suffer from auditory problems. If you suffer from tinnitus you should be sure you’re getting enough. Zinc could play a role in the development of tinnitus. There’s some evidence that patients who have tinnitus may require extra supplementation. Calcium is another supplement that can help relieve tinnitus. Gingko biloba has also been helpful.

Relaxation techniques seem to be very helpful; they don’t stop the noise but they make it much easier to live with. I’ve had patients who, despite every effort at eliminating tinnitus, have been unsuccessful. However, they found that when they adopted specific techniques for controlling stress, the tinnitus was much easier to tolerate.

Many people who have tinnitus, especially elderly people, are also hard of hearing. This can exacerbate the condition by making other sounds softer and allowing the sounds of the tinnitus to dominate. It can be very helpful for such people to get a hearing aid. Being able to hear well will relieve the tinnitus to some degree, as well as enhance life in general.

NATURAL PRESCRIPTION FOR TINNITUS

• If you are regularly exposed to loud noises, protect your ears with earplugs.
• Check for an accumulation of earwax.
• Have an ear, nose, and throat specialist examine you to rule out the possibility of a tumor affecting a nerve in the ear.
• Eliminate any food that contains salicylates. Foods containing salicylates include almonds, apples, apricots, blackberries, boysenberries, cherries, cucumbers and Pickles, currants, gooseberries, grapes or raisins, nectarines, oranges, peaches, plums or prunes, raspberries, strawberries, and tomatoes.
• If you are taking the following drugs, consult your physician to see if they affect your finnitus: aspirin, atropine sulfate, chloroquine, Flexeril, ergotamine derivatives, nicotine, Talwin, quinidine, and quinine.
• Stop smoking.
• Eliminate caffeine to see if it affects your tinnitus.
• Adopt a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet.
• Check to see if you have a blood-sugar problem. Treat low blood sugar with diet and chromium supplementation.
• Adopt relaxation techniques.
• Have your hearing checked, and if necessary get a hearing aid.

IN ADDITION TO YOUR DAILY SUPPLEMENTS, TAKE:

• Vitamin A: 10,000 I.U. daily.
• Zinc: 50 mg. daily.
• Calcium: 1,200 mg. daily at bedtime.
• Ginkgo biloba: 40 mg. three times daily.