Do You Know What Causes Ears to Ring?

Ear ringing is the layman's term for tinnitus. The specific type that exhibits the ringing of the ears is called tonal tinnitus. Although this is not a serious condition, the discomfort that the sufferer experiences is problematic. Ringing ears is mostly attributed to bad habits, unhealthy lifestyle and some natural causes. By looking at all these different aspects, we will be able to find what causes ears to ring.

The first cause of ringing is ear damage. Hearing loss is often attributed to old age. As you grow older, it becomes very evident that your hearing capability is not the same as before. This is actually caused by too much exposure to loud noise which damages the eardrums. Certain illnesses can also result to hearing loss which causes ears to ring.

The most difficult to handle and cure is tonal tinnitus caused by damage to the ears. Once the ear gets damaged it is very difficult to reverse the damage. When the cochlea gets damaged, the auditory hairs housed in there will produce abnormal signals. It will result in ringing of the ears because the brain interprets the abnormal signals sent by these auditory hairs as noise.

The second cause of tinnitus is stress. The reason why stress can cause the ringing of the ears is because of the Hypothalamus. The Hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that is specifically subject to stress. Stress can cause the hypothalamus to malfunction its inability to do the job that it is supposed to do.

The main function of the hypothalamus is to produce hormones needed for the body to function properly and it connects the different systems in the body. So when the hypothalamus is not functioning properly, the signals connecting your brain to your ears are affected. Usually, patients suffering from tinnitus say that the ringing of the ears worsens when they are stressed.

The third cause is prescription drugs. Prescription drugs for allergies and other illnesses are often what cause ears to ring. One example is antihistamines. When using antihistamines for treating allergies, it has some unintended effects to the ears. The mucus membranes in the middle ear will thicken, building pressure in the ear. Once enough pressure is built up, the ears start to ring.

What else causes ears to ring? The last cause is Meniere's disease. This is a disorder affecting the inner ear that can seriously affect your hearing and balance. It's characterized by vertigo, progressive hearing loss, and ringing ears. This usually happens in one ear only. It ranges from mild to severe depending on the patient.

If the tinnitus is only caused by the first three causes, it is still possible to treat it. If you're lucky, it will go away on its own but remember that it may be symptoms of a larger problem like Meniere's disease. That's why you should go to a specialist to find out what causes ears to ring. You may be able to catch a serious disease early by being proactive.