Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Melissa Stanley R.N., B.S.N.
The first full week of February, tinnitus awareness is observed. Tinnitus is defined as a ringing, buzzing or similar sensation in the ears. More people are affected by it than we know. Some people may hear sounds of singing, music, pulse (pulsatile tinnitus), humming, and hissing. My husband suffers from tinnitus. He describes it as a white noise which gradually worsened overtime and is worse when it is quiet. It can make him irritable at times because he can hear everything in the background but nothing close. Other people we know get a bad headache with their tinnitus. Everyone has a different experience as to how tinnitus affects them. It can be a frustrating and a debilitating issue.
What causes tinnitus?
It is not clear why it happens but it often occurs with some type of hearing loss. It can happens to all ages especially to those over the age of 60. Common causes of tinnitus include earwax build-up, middle ear infection, anemia, inner ear damage for repeated exposure to loud noises, allergies, Meniere’s disease, or age-related hearing loss. Some people may only experience a mild irritation while others it affects their daily lives.
So the question is, can tinnitus be treated?
The first step for treating tinnitus is properly diagnosing and measuring tinnitus. Getting an ear examine by a healthcare professional to see if the problem may be caused by a treatable condition such as an ear infection or build-up of earwax would be a good start. You may be referred to a specialist for further testing and possible treatments. Some places offer free hearing tests such as Costco. There is no medication or promising treatment for tinnitus. Treating some of the causes may help reduce the severity of complications and symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, “For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or with other treatments that reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.”
Some studies have shown a B12 deficiency can contribute to tinnitus and hearing loss. Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause the demyelination of neurons in the cochlear nerve impairing the vascular and nervous systems of the auditory system, thus resulting in tinnitus and hearing loss. The 2 most common types of b12 are Cyanocobalomin and Methylcobalamin. At PrimeIV, we offer methylcobalamin (active B12), which is a naturally occurring form, via intravenous administration or intramuscular injection. Vitamin B12 is an important water-soluble vitamin that your body needs. It is involved in red blood cell production, brain health, nerve function, metabolism and DNA synthesis. Since it is not produced naturally in your body, we have to get it from supplements as well as food sources like eggs, milk, fish and meat. There is a gene mutation associated with B12 that affects the ability of the body to turn it into forms that body can utilize. Not everyone knows if they have a gene mutation unless they have been tested.
Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to tinnitus. It is a fast-soluble vitamin that can cause poor bone health which includes the inner ear bones.
Even though we live in sunny Florida, most people are deficient in this vitamin. Vitamin D is naturally produced in our bodies when exposed to direct sunlight. Exposing your skin to sun without sunscreen feels great but may contribute to skin cancer. Vitamin D 50,000 IU Intramuscular injection every 3-4 weeks.
Along with vitamins, Mineral deficiencies such as magnesium have been found to prevent hearing loss amongst noise exposure. Magnesium is helpful in decreasing tinnitus sounds as a result of hearing loss. Healthy levels of magnesium keep the blood vessels relaxed, allowing adequate blood to flow throughout the body, including the inner ear.
PrimeIV is proud to partner with Rootine. Rootine is a convenient at-home test kit. You order your test kit online, collect your sample, send it back and then wait for your results. Rootine test kits provide a comprehensive analysis to uncover your micronutrient deficiencies. Once you receive your results, bring them into PrimeIV. We will review your results and customize a wellness plan for your needs.
Unfortunately, for my husband, his tinnitus is caused from repeated exposure to loud noises. He has no hearing loss, according to all of his hearing tests, so treating his symptoms is the only way to improve his everyday tinnitus. There are many resources available online for tinnitus sufferers such as American Tinnitus Association (ata.org) and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (asha.org). Maintaining a well balanced diet while filling nutrient gaps with supplements and knowing your deficiencies can greatly improve your quality of life and improve your ear health.
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