Tinnitus From Cochlea Damage | Tinnitus From Stress | Tinnitus From Sinus

Hearing loss is without doubt the largest proven cause of tinnitus.  Hearing loss may occur due to several factors.  Old age is one known factor due to the degeneration of the cochlea and damage to the hair cells and the nerves responsible for sending sound signals to the brain.  Temporary hearing loss can occur when there is a blockage in the auditory canal by ear wax.

Excessive ear wax often blocks the auditory canal and has also been identified as a cause of tinnitus although this is not strictly true.  Exposure to loud noise, whether instant or prolonged can cause hearing loss because the hair cells get damaged and eventually degenerate.  This is why ear plugs must be worn when we know our ears are to be exposed to loud noise, and as much as possible we should avoid regular exposure of our ears to loud noise or music.  Constant exposure to loud noises will not make our ears immune to loud noises; in fact it quickly damages the hair cells which eventually lead to hearing loss.

Aside from hearing loss there are other factors that are identified as triggers or causes of tinnitus.  Stress and anxiety causes tinnitus, high sodium diet, excessive caffeine intake, and nicotine too.  Stress and anxiety causes tinnitus but they have not been identified as a direct cause of tinnitus.  They have been pointed as aggravators of existing tinnitus cases though.  High salt intake causes fluid retention in the ears. Caffeine found in coffee, chocolates, tea and colas, and nicotine in cigarettes cause circulatory problems.

Stress and anxiety makes the tinnitus sound louder than it has been.  There may be several causes of tinnitus but stress and anxiety have aggravated it in most cases.  Once stress and anxiety is present, tinnitus becomes distracting to a point that a person cannot function well.

To minimize stress and anxiety it is important for the person affected with tinnitus to undergo therapy to be able to come into terms with the tinnitus.  Education of the causes of the tinnitus will calm a person and make them realize that tinnitus is not life threatening and eventually removing the stress and anxiety.  Psychotherapy has greatly help a lot of tinnitus patients adjust to the tinnitus sounds they are experiencing to a point that they are can ignore the tinnitus sounds and are able to live with it without being bothered.  Psychotherapy does a lot of help and so does meditation, deep breathing, yoga, and relaxation techniques.