| Tinnitus is a condition where noises are heard in the | | | | • Avoiding nervous system stimulants like caffeine |
| ears or in the head without apparent cause. In other | | | | and alcohol |
| words the noises actually originate in the head and are | | | | • Including vitamins A, E, and B in your diet or take |
| not coming from a normal external source. | | | | supplements. Vitamin A is important for the inner ear |
| There are many different causes of the disturbance | | | | membranes |
| to the auditory apparatus causing tinnitus, and one of | | | | • Take zinc as a supplement |
| the most common is excessively loud noise. This can | | | | • Sleep with your head propped up on a couple of |
| lead to a buzzing or ringing in the ears which | | | | pillows helps minimise congestion in the sinuses and |
| fortunately, is often only temporary. | | | | helps reduce tinnitus |
| If the noises are continuous or constantly coming and | | | | • Avoid excessive noise that could cause more |
| going, they can cause a lot of misery, distress, and | | | | aggravation. Use ear protection if necessary. |
| depression for the sufferer. Chronic tinnitus is more | | | | • Try tinnitus masking, masking music, or a hearing |
| common in people over 40, but is increasingly apparent | | | | aid |
| in younger people, probably because of the increasing | | | | • Try alternative therapies like hypnosis |
| amount of general noise in our environment - road drills, | | | | • Try counselling, since talking things over often |
| loud music, motor-cycles, traffic generally, aircraft, and | | | | helps, especially with the reassurance that this is not a |
| so on. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get away | | | | disease or due to cancer. |
| from noise of one sort or another. | | | | • Try relaxation exercises or techniques. Even just |
| The effects of tinnitus on a person's life can vary | | | | learning how to handle stress in everyday life and |
| considerably from one to another, but can often | | | | relax more can help alleviate symptoms |
| include reduced ability to concentrate, general anxiety | | | | • Mild exercise can help blood flow to the ear and |
| and depression, and reduced motivation. It seems that | | | | may help to alleviate the condition. Twenty to thirty |
| stress can make tinnitus worse and it is essential for a | | | | minutes daily exercise is good for your general health |
| sufferer to try to minimise stress in their life. | | | | anyway. |
| Other ways to combat the problem include: | | | | Treatment for tinnitus can be empirical. In other words |
| • Having adequate rest and sleep, and avoiding | | | | it may be necessary to try each and every possibility |
| fatigue | | | | in order to hit on one that works for you. Even in the |
| • Check with your doctor in case you have an ear | | | | event that your tinnitus cannot be totally cured, there |
| infection or physical cause | | | | are many ways of making it much easier to live with. |