Who is at Risk for Developing Tinnitus?

One thing that you will hear across the entire health industry is the mantra that prevention is the best possible cure for everyone. The better we take care of our health, the more we are able to avoid the development of diseases and illnesses. When it comes to tinnitus, prevention is essential, and it's something that your audiologist will talk you through when you go for an appointment.

Tinnitus isn't considered to be a condition, though, as it's a symptom instead – a symptom of hearing loss. It's distracting, irritating and it's debilitating for those who are handling it every single day. Understanding the root cause of tinnitus will help you to do what you can to eliminate the symptoms, but tinnitus is rarely the problem.

Hearing loss and tinnitus go hand in hand, and we are all open to experiencing hearing loss at some point in life. For most people, tinnitus can come and go pretty quickly, and there is usually no lasting damage to your hearing health. There are some out there who are more vulnerable than others, though, and it's a mix of lifestyle and genetics as well as other factors that lead to people being at risk of developing tinnitus.

When you speak to an audiologist, they can suggest some ways in which you can mitigate and treat your tinnitus and reduce the risk of it happening to you in the first place. Remember, prevention is better than cure, but here are some of the categories that you can fall into for being susceptible for tinnitus.

You live a stressful life

Stress is one of the most common factors in those who deal with tinnitus. When you have a stressful job or a hectic lifestyle, blood pressure tends to rise and this then leads to hypertension. Hypertension is one of the biggest risks for tinnitus, and it's a common consequence.

If you are vulnerable to stress-related hypertension, you may be vulnerable to tinnitus, too. Too much stress in life is a big deal, and if you're experiencing ringing or buzzing in the ears, it may be time to book in with an audiologist.

You're a coffee lover

There is nothing wrong with loving coffee, but there is everything wrong with drinking it to the point you have tinnitus. Too much caffeine can lead to high blood pressure and will turn to tinnitus later on. You can still enjoy the caffeine that you love, but switching to decaf will be all you need to make all the difference to your tinnitus. You can keep the taste without any of the hypertension that goes with it.

You work around a lot of noise

If you have spent time in construction, you will know exactly why you have to wear ear protection: the loud noise of the machinery is going to permeate your ears like nothing else. The high levels of prolonged sound can damage the tiny hair cells in the inner ears. When this happens, the result is an interruption in the electrical signals sent from the ear to the brain that are interpreted as sound.

That interruption ends up as tinnitus, and if you work in a loud environment, you need to ensure that you are wearing ear protection to protect the inner ear as much as possible.

Genetics

Meniere's disease is a treatable genetic condition, but it's not curable. Around 600,000 people in the US are dealing with Meniere's disease, and when there is a family history of the condition, tinnitus development is a risk. Alongside this, intermittent issues with balance and vertigo as well as hearing loss are a result of Meniere's disease. 

You haven't seen an audiologist

When was the last time you had your ears cleaned out? How about an ear exam? If you haven't had your ears checked out recently, it may be time to book in with an audiologist and have your ears checked over.

Earwax is essential as it keeps the canal in your ear soft, and it works to prevent inner ear infections, too. The thing is wax can build up to huge amounts and cause a blockage in the ear. This can lead to long term issues over time, but with the right help from an audiologist, you can get your ears cleaned out properly.

Contact us today

With the help of an audiologist, you can have your hearing checked and your ears examined thoroughly. This will help you to determine why you are hearing a prolonged whistling or ringing in the ears. Our expert audiologists can carry out safe cleaning of your ears and work out why you are hearing the ringing and they can also recommend hearing protection and determine.

With a call to Affordable Audiology & Hearing Service, contact us today at (920) 267-5220, you can stop tinnitus from overshadowing your life.