What causes tinnitus?

　　Do you often feel buzzing, chirping or hissing in your ears, even though the surroundings are quiet? This "sound" that only you can hear is probably tinnitus. Tinnitus is not an independent disease, but a health alarm sent by the body. According to statistics, 1 in 10 people experience tinnitus. It may appear briefly or be persistent, seriously affecting sleep and mood. So, what exactly causes tinnitus? How should we respond?

What causes tinnitus?

　　Tinnitus refers to the phenomenon that the ears or brain perceive sounds in the absence of external sound sources, such as buzzing, ringing, hissing, etc. It is not a minor problem, it is often a sign of abnormality in the body. Medically, it is believed that there are many causes of tinnitus, which can mainly be classified into the following categories:

　　1. Ear diseases

　　Blockage of the external auditory canal (such as cerumen plugs), otitis media, otosclerosis, and damage to the inner ear (such as Meniere's disease) can all cause tinnitus. What needs more vigilance is acoustic neuroma - a benign tumor that often presents with unilateral tinnitus as an early symptom. Therefore, timely ear examination is necessary for persistent tinnitus.

　　2. Long-term noise exposure

　　Being in a noisy environment (such as a factory or KTV) for a long time, or being accustomed to wearing headphones to listen to high-volume music, can damage the hair cells in the inner ear, leading to noise-induced deafness and tinnitus. A strong explosion (such as a firecracker) may also cause acute tinnitus. It is recommended to wear earplugs when working and follow the "60-60 principle" for daily use of headphones: the volume does not exceed 60% and the duration does not exceed 60 minutes.

　　3. High emotional pressure

　　Anxiety, depression, long-term stress and excessive fatigue can directly affect the auditory center and induce or aggravate tinnitus. Studies have found that more than 70% of chronic tinnitus patients are accompanied by psychological problems. In turn, tinnitus makes people irritated and insomniac, forming a vicious cycle of "the more annoying it is, the louder it gets, and the louder it becomes, the more annoying it gets."

　　4. Bad living habits

　　Smoking reduces oxygen supply to the inner ear； Excessive alcohol and caffeine irritate the nervous system ； A diet high in salt and fat affects blood circulation in the ears—all of which may worsen tinnitus. Staying up late and overusing your brain can also make symptoms more obvious.

　　5. Drugs are ototoxic

　　Some antibiotics (such as streptomycin), chemotherapy drugs, and high-dose aspirin may damage the auditory nerve and cause temporary or permanent tinnitus. This type of medicine should be used under the guidance of a doctor. Once tinnitus occurs, the medicine should be stopped immediately and seek medical attention.

What to do about tinnitus

　　1. Adjust living habits

　　Avoid staying up late for long periods of time and overexerting yourself, and ensure 7-8 hours of sleep a day so that your ear nerves can fully rest.； Reduce the duration of earphone use and control the volume below 60 decibels to avoid noise irritating the eardrum. Stop smoking and limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol and nicotine will affect blood circulation in the ears and may aggravate tinnitus symptoms.

　　2. Optimize environment and auditory adjustment

　　Stay away from noisy environments, such as construction sites, KTVs, etc., and wear soundproof earplugs when necessary； You can play soft white noise (such as running water, rain) at home to cover up tinnitus and relieve psychological discomfort. Avoid being in a quiet environment for a long time. Moderate background sound can help the brain adapt and reduce the perception of tinnitus.

　　3. Diet conditioning

　　Eat more foods rich in vitamin B (such as lean meat, whole grains), zinc (such as nuts, seafood) and iron (such as spinach, animal liver) to help repair ear nerves； Reduce the intake of high-salt, high-sugar, and high-fat foods to prevent hardening of the arteries from affecting the blood supply to the ears. You can drink chrysanthemum tea and wolfberry tea in moderation to help clear away heat, improve eyesight, and nourish the liver and kidneys.

　　4. Diagnose diseases and intervene in time for treatment

　　If tinnitus lasts for more than 1-2 weeks, or is accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, earache and other symptoms, you need to be alert to otitis media, hypertension, cervical spondylosis, ear tumors and other problems, and seek medical examination in time. Excessive long-term stress may also induce tinnitus. You can regulate your emotions through exercise, meditation, etc., and seek psychological counseling when necessary.

　　Occasional, brief tinnitus is usually nothing to worry about and may be caused by fatigue or stress. However, if the tinnitus lasts for more than 5 minutes, especially if it is unilateral, accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness and headache, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible to check for organic diseases. Early detection and early intervention can prevent irreversible hearing damage.