Don't ignore this strange sound! Do you know the factors that cause tinnitus?

In the hit TV series "I am a criminal policeman"

When Officer Guo was helping Mr. Qin solve the case

Multiple tinnitus due to fatigue and lack of sleep

Can't even hear the sound

Eventually I had to stop working to get treatment.

This scene resonated with many viewers.

Some netizens said that they were under great pressure and did not get enough rest.

It is easy to have tinnitus

TV series "I am a Detective"

Young and middle-aged people are the main force of tinnitus

Frequent wearing of headphones, irregular lifestyle,

Work pressure is high, etc.

All are inducements

Will untreated tinnitus really cause deafness?

Today, let’s talk about tinnitus.

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Tinnitus is not actually a disease

Tinnitus is a sound that the human ear subjectively perceives in the absence of external sound or electrical stimulation.
Under normal circumstances, we can hear sounds and know where they come from. Tinnitus means that we can hear sounds subjectively, but we cannot find the objective source of the sound. For example, if a cicada is chirping in a tree, you can hear the sound of the cicada, which is normal hearing. However, even if there is no cicada, people can still feel a sound like a cicada, which is tinnitus.

I can tell you for sure that most tinnitus is not an independent disease, but a concomitant symptom.

Young and middle-aged people are the "main force" of tinnitus. Many people used to believe that tinnitus was exclusive to the elderly. In fact, more and more young people are beginning to experience tinnitus, and because of changes in living habits and environment, tinnitus patients tend to be getting younger.

With the increase of life, work and mental pressure, the incidence of tinnitus has been rising year by year, from 3% to 4% to 10% to 20%. Among tinnitus patients, about one-third are elderly people over 65 years old, and the remaining two-thirds are middle-aged and young people.

Regarding tinnitus, different people may experience it differently. Some people feel it as a low-frequency buzzing sound, some feel it as a high-frequency cicada chirping sound, and some feel it as a slightly harsh shrill sound...

Why does the sound of tinnitus vary? First of all, there are many reasons for tinnitus, and different reasons will lead to different subjective feelings, that is, the sounds we feel are different. Secondly, the degree of tinnitus for each person, or the degree to which each person feels tinnitus, is different. Because the tones produced by tinnitus at different frequencies are also different, the sounds of tinnitus described are naturally different.

Five factors that may cause tinnitus

disease

External ear cerumen embolism, tumors or foreign bodies, otitis media, labyrinthitis, mastoiditis, etc. In addition, trauma, cardiovascular, rheumatic, endocrine, immune-related diseases, etc. can all lead to the occurrence of tinnitus.

lifestyle

Irregular work and rest schedules, high work pressure, study stress, and poor emotional regulation ability are also causes of tinnitus.

Negative emotions

People who are troubled by negative emotions, especially those who are often anxious and depressed, are more likely to experience tinnitus.

noise

Frequent exposure to noise or wearing headphones for long periods of time can easily cause tinnitus. Prolonged exposure to high volume, especially when listening to music, playing games or watching movies through headphones, can not only cause tinnitus and ear pain, but may also damage the function of the inner ear hair cells, leading to tinnitus and hearing loss . This damage usually occurs gradually and may not be noticeable at first.

menopause

Women in menopause are also prone to tinnitus, and some people often experience high-frequency tinnitus.

Beware of these three types of tinnitus

Tinnitus is a warning signal from the body. If you experience tinnitus, hearing loss, ear discomfort and other symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. In particular, the following three types of tinnitus should be taken seriously:

Tinnitus with ear congestion

This is most likely a precursor to sudden deafness. Sudden deafness refers to sudden, unexplained sensorineural hearing loss, a subjective tinnitus, with clinical manifestations accompanied by tinnitus and a feeling of ear blockage. Note: The golden treatment period is within 72 hours after sudden deafness. The earlier the treatment, the greater the possibility of hearing recovery.

Pulsatile tinnitus

The patient subjectively feels that there is a sound in the ear that is consistent with the rhythm of the heart or blood vessels. Pulsatile tinnitus is generally vascular in origin. This type of tinnitus is mostly related to the blood vessels in the skull and head and neck. The sound of blood flow is transmitted to the cochlea through the adjacent bone structures and blood vessels, making the patient feel the presence of tinnitus. Long-term pulsatile tinnitus can seriously affect life, work and sleep, and even cause mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Unilateral tinnitus

There is another disease that needs special attention, which is acoustic neuroma. Its early symptoms are mainly unilateral tinnitus. As the tumor grows, it may compress the brainstem and cerebellum, leading to functional abnormalities. In severe cases, brain herniation may occur, which is life-threatening.

Is it true that if you keep talking for a long time, you will become deaf?

The saying that "long-term tinnitus will lead to deafness" is not accurate. Scientific research shows that tinnitus itself does not directly lead to deafness.

Tinnitus is often a symptom of other health problems rather than a direct cause of hearing loss. For example, long-term exposure to noise, ear diseases, vascular problems, and even psychological reasons may all be causes of tinnitus, but these problems do not always cause hearing loss or even deafness.

Learn to adjust and you will have a peaceful and clean ear.

Relieve anxiety

You can appropriately reduce work pressure, divert your attention, actively participate in social activities, etc., while keeping a happy mood. If necessary, you can seek psychological counseling from professionals.

Secondly, don’t pay too much attention to tinnitus to avoid forming a vicious cycle of tinnitus-insomnia-emotional anxiety-worsened tinnitus.

Special occupations should take good protection

For people working in noise-related occupations, it is necessary to do a good job of noise elimination and sound insulation, and have their hearing tested regularly.

Don’t wear headphones for more than 60 minutes

You can wear headphones, but you must wear them correctly. Follow the three "60" principles: the volume should not exceed 60% of the maximum volume , the continuous listening time should not exceed 60 minutes, and the ambient sound should not exceed 60 decibels.

In addition, try to avoid wearing headphones for a long time in places with loud ambient noise (such as subways, airplanes, etc.), because you need to turn up the volume to offset the external noise, which can easily cause hearing damage. If you must use headphones in these environments, it is recommended to choose noise-canceling headphones to reduce the need for volume.

It is best not to use headphones when going to sleep at night. If you are used to listening to music before going to sleep, you might as well set a timer to turn off the headphones within an hour. It should be noted that headphones, especially in-ear headphones, will be contaminated with earwax, sweat and bacteria after long-term use. It is recommended to clean the headphones regularly, especially the earplugs, to reduce the impact of bacterial growth on the health of the ear canal.

Reduce coffee and alcohol intake

Diet and lifestyle habits can also affect ear health. Caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco can stimulate the nervous system and make tinnitus worse. It is recommended to minimize the intake of coffee and alcohol, maintain a light diet, and avoid smoking.

In addition, foods rich in zinc are helpful in preventing tinnitus , and the health of the cochlea is closely related to zinc. You can eat more zinc-rich foods such as seafood, lean meat, eggs, etc.