Tinnitus is an occasional or continuous ringing in the ears or a perception of noise. It can be a humming, buzzing, hissing or ringing noise, it differs with each individual.
Tinnitus worsens with age and women around menopause age are at a higher risk of suffering with it, affecting up to 20% of the population. Tinnitus itself is not a condition, rather a symptom of an underlying health issue. It is thought that hormone imbalances play a role, as there are oestrogen receptors present in the ears. Some studies show that declining levels can cause some confusion in the sounds communicated between the ears and the brain, which can lead to unwanted noise in the inner ears.
It must be noted however that more research still needs to be done in this area as it is still not known for sure why women experience it during menopause and the exact role that oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone play in relation to sound. Other factors which may be responsible include exposure to loud noise in 35% of sufferers, ear blockages, blood vessel disorders and some medications.
Short-term Management of Tinnitus:
- Suppression of Noise – putting on the radio at a reduced volume, adding soft simulated sounds to your environment such as dehumidifiers, air conditioning units that may help reduce the noise that you experience
- Stress Management – Stress can worsen symptoms so using stress management techniques such as deep breathing or yoga may help.
- Reduction of alcohol intake – alcohol is known to increase blood flow to the ears which may worsen symptoms and therefore should be avoided
- Avoid irritants such as caffeine, loud noises, smoking, nicotine and carbon monoxide, which can affect the functioning of the ear system.
- Natural Supplements to aid sleep – tinnitus can be worse at night for some people so taking a herbal remedy such as Valerian may help promote natural sleep
In the long term, however, the root of the problem will need to be addressed. In the case of hormone imbalance, the correct dose and type of HRT would be an option. For those who prefer a more natural approach, there are other treatments such as acupuncture aromatherapy, and alternative medicines along with changes in lifestyle that may help alleviate the symptoms of Tinnitus.
Exercise may help with tinnitus as it flushes out the stress hormones and releases feel-good endorphins. However according to resources linked to the British Tinnitus Association, over time noises can reduce completely by themselves or at least decrease to a level which is more tolerable.
