What Are The Main Causes of Tinnitus?

What are the main causes of tinnitus? Tinnitus is a widespread condition, and it is a symptom of various illnesses relating to your ear. This condition can affect all age groups, from young children to old-age people. Tinnitus can disturb your quality of life and may cause depression and anxiety. If you have Tinnitus or ringing in the ear, it means that your body is indicating the presence of a problem. You may experience continuous phantom sounds in one or both ears.

Most of the time, people with hearing loss experience Tinnitus. Hearing loss may occur due to exposure to loud noises, or age factor. Hearing loss can also result from an ear infection or any other ear problem. Healthy people who do not have any ear-related issues can also experience Tinnitus.

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Who Has Tinnitus: Causes

The following are some factors that cause Tinnitus.

• Ear blockage due to excessive production of wax
• Certain drugs, such as OTC aspirin, anti-inflammatory medicine, antibiotics
• Aging process
• Meniere’s disease (affects the inner ear)
• Stiffening of the bones due to Otosclerosis
• Medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, circulatory problems, allergies, anemia, diabetes, and autoimmune disease
• Neck or jaw problems, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
• Head and neck injuries

Causes of Tinnitus

Many occupations and lifestyle choices can make you prone to developing Tinnitus. To avoid such conditions, you need to take various measures. For instance, if you expose your ears to loud noises in your daily life, you need to wear ear protection. Below are some examples of factors that can elevate the risks of developing Tinnitus.

1.     Exposure to Music

If you are constantly listening to loud music, you are at a higher risk of getting Tinnitus. For example, people who play in concerts and bands are more likely to have Tinnitus. To avoid Tinnitus, protecting your ears is essential or try to stay away from the noisy environment if you can. If you work in an area where continuous loud music plays often, you should consider getting earmuffs to cancel the outside noise.

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2.     Working with Loud Machinery

In most cases, you can see that people working with heavy machinery have higher chances of developing Tinnitus. It does not matter if you are used to working in a noisy environment. You must not forget that damage can appear at any stage of life in the form of Tinnitus. You should always protect your ears with noise reduction headphones or earplugs.

3.     Exposure to Loud Bangs

Exposure to loud bangs can damage your membrane in the cochlea. Soldiers who use weapons with loud bangs have a high risk of developing Tinnitus.

4.     Using Earphones

Listening to music on your headphones can place you at a high risk of developing Tinnitus. Headphones can affect your hearing in the same way as any other noise does. Nonstop music can also cause cochlear hair cells to bend, and consequences can be severe. You should follow the 60/60 rule while listening to music. You should practice not to raise the volume above 60%, and secondly, you should take a break after every 60 minutes.

5.     Stress

Stress can cause Tinnitus and many other serious health conditions. Continuous pressure may affect your brain functionality and also cause your sensory part in the brain to work abnormally.

6.     Smoking

It might come to you as a surprise, but smoking can contribute to your Tinnitus noises as well. Smoking can affect your middle ear lining and the Eustachian tube. Nicotine interferes with the neurotransmitters present in the auditory nerve. These neurotransmitters tell your brain which sounds to hear. Any damage to the region that contains these sensitive organs can result in hearing loss or Tinnitus.

Call The Tinnitus Cognitive Center About Your Tinnitus

To know more about Tinnitus and its’ causes, you need to visit a Tinnitus treatment specialist. Tinnitus is not a symptom of just one or two health conditions. In fact, many diseases, ear infections, or injuries can lead to ringing sounds in your ear.

If you hear constant ringing in your ears, you can contact us at (646) 213-2321, or schedule an online appointment with tinnitus specialist Stephen Katz LCSW.