Ringing Ears: Need-to-know Stuff About Ringing Ears

You may have heard people you know complain about the ringing ears, and you cannot imagine why they are complaining about it when it sounds all so petty. But, you cannot just say that when you are one of the millions of people seriously affected by it.

For better understanding on ringing in the ear, here are some need-to-know facts:

It is the layman's term for the medical term tinnitus, which is defined as the perception of sound in the ears or head where no external source is present. There are other sounds associated with tinnitus, including buzzing, booming, whooshing, clicking, whistling, hissing, and chirping noises.

It affects around 60 million people in the United States. Of this number, around 12 million are severely affected, the extent of which is that they are not able to live their normal lives. But, as common as it is, it is often misunderstood. Also, majority of its sufferers do not know about it until their doctors have told them so.

It is a warning that you are suffering from an underlying medical condition. The unwanted sound is actually a symptom of a medical condition. These conditions include noise-induced cochlear damage, stress, sinusitis, allergies, Meniere's Disease, age-associated hearing loss, earwax impaction, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), whiplash injury, thyroid disorder, vitamin B12 deficiency, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and malformation of the capillaries.

Its most common cause is noise-induced cochlear damage. Around 90% of the cases of ringing in the ears is caused by repeated exposure of the ears to loud noises. Especially in this age of iPods, this percentage is not surprising. While there is nothing wrong going to concerts or listening to music, let us do these things in moderation. When you go to very noisy places, be it concert places or your own workplace, be sure to protect your ears by wearing earplugs.

There is no cure for it, but there are remedies that help its sufferers manage its symptoms. These include homeopathic tinnitus remedies, herbal preparations, acupressure, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, counseling, meditation, and relaxation therapy. Conventional drugs like antidepressants, anti-anxiety, and anticonvulsants are also used as relief agents.

Stress and immune system suppression are two of its most notable effects. While stress is one of the causes of ringing ears, it is not surprising that one of the effects of the unwanted sound is stress itself. Just hearing it, impeding your daily activities can prove to be stressful. Furthermore, people who suffer from tinnitis usually find it hard to fall asleep at night because the unwanted sound tends to get louder at night, thus weakening their immune systems. Moreover, stress and immune system suppression tend to increase the level of ear ringing, hence, efforts should be made to manage stress and boost the immune system.