Kadivar article 2 / 01/03/06
Are there any known cures for tinnitus? What are the two different types of tinitus and is a deficiency in magnesium a possible cause?
Tinnitus is the name for ringing in the ears and it is very common. Nearly 36 million Americans suffer from this discomfort. Most tinnitus comes from damage to the microscopic endings of the hearing nerve in the inner ear.
Advancing age is generally accompanied by a certain amount of hearing nerve impairment and tinnitus. Exposure to loud noise is probably the leading cause of tinnitus. Some causes are not serious - like a small plug of wax in the ear canal. Tinnitus can also be a symptom of stiffening of the middle ear bones; it may be caused by allergy, high or low blood pressure, a tumor, diabetes, thyroid problems, injury to the head or neck, medications and a variety of other causes.
Treatment will be quite different in each case of tinnitus. In most cases, there is no specific treatment for ear and head noise. Determination of a cause may require extensive testing including x-rays, balance tests and laboratory work. However, most causes cannot be identified. Occasionally, medicine may help the noise. The following list of Do’s and Don’ts can help lessen the severity of tinnitus:
Avoid exposure to loud sounds and noises.
Get your blood pressure checked and controlled if necessary.
Decrease your intake of salt. Salt impairs blood circulation.
Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, cola, and tobacco.
Exercise daily to improve your circulation.
Get adequate rest and avoid fatigue.
Stop worrying about the noise. Recognize your head noise as an annoyance and learn to live with it.
Hakimeh B. Kadivar, M.D.
Diplomate, American Board of Otolaryngology
Member, South Bay Independent Physicians Medical Group, Inc