Causes of Ringing Ears
Do you sometimes feel a strange sensation in your ears? Does it sound like buzzing, whooshing or ringing coming from your ears without an external source of stimulus? If your answer to these questions is yes, you have a hearing problem called tinnitus. The common causes of ringing ears are varied.
Tinnitus explained - Some cases occur as a symptom of a disease. In fact, a number of medical conditions add pressure to the ears and alter natural balance and blood circulation.
Conditions that can cause tinnitus are the following:
Tumor in the inner ear (acoustic neuroma)-is benign or non cancerous. It is also called vestibular schwannma. This tumor grows in the cranial nerve, affecting hearing and balance.
One ear is usually affected by tinnitus.
Meniere’s disease -is a disorder in the inner ear. Although still under further research, many experts believe this disease is due to an excessive fluid in the ears. Vertigo attacks with waves of nausea and dizziness and tinnitus are among Meniere’s symptoms.
Otosclerosis- is an abnormal growth of the bone the inner ear. It progressively affects hearing loss through bouts of tinnitus.
Atherosclerosis - is a result the buildup of fatty substances in the body. The artery wall thickens as well as some major blood vessels in the ear. When this happens, the heart beats laboriously affecting hearing.
Anything affecting blood circulation is closely linked to the causes of ringing ears. Adding up to the list of blood flow factors are high blood pressure, malformation of capillaries and turbulent blood flow due to the narrowing of arteries in the neck.
The more common causes of tinnitus are:
Earwax - protects the ear from fungi and bacteria but if impacted, it can cause hearing problems.
Acoustic trauma - prolonged loud noise exposure can damage ears. With the popularity of MP3s, tinnitus among younger generation is growing in numbers.
Age-related hearing loss - as the body ages, its senses deteriorates. The ears may progressively lose its sensitivity to sound impulses.
Neck and head injuries - can alter neurological impulses like sound if some nerves are damaged. This can have the effect of buzzing and ringing in ears.
When under medication, one should also be aware than some drugs can cause tinnitus. These drugs include antibiotics, aspirin, and those that treat malaria and cancer.
The causes of ringing ears can be a combination of the factors mentioned above. To be sure, consult a doctor and have a medical diagnosis. Your very own case of tinnitus may be a manifestation of a more serious health condition. Act on it and seek relief.
