Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

First of all, what is MSG?  According to Mayo Clinic , "monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer often added to restaurant foods, canned vegetables, soups, deli meats and other foods." Many people say consuming MSG causes or worsens tinnitus. Here are the results from a quick search: European manufacturer of medical devices,  Kiversal , says "Flavour enhancers: substances such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) are excitatory neurotransmitters that can trigger tinnitus. Anderson Audiology writes: "Consuming MSG basically increases levels of electrical activity in the brain, including where loud tinnitus noises are perceived." Dietary supplements provider, Arches , has a good explanation of how MSG causes tinnitus:  "MSG breaks down into glutamate in the body. Glutamate...is an excitatory neuro-transmitter; it triggers the firing of neurons. When there is too much glutamate in the synapse between neurons, it activates the neurons into a continual firing ...

Tinnitus is a highly subjective condition. It's usually self-reported. Some people have mild cases, while others literally can't live with the constant buzzing, ringing or other noises it creates. Enter electroencephalography (EEG), a technique that measures electrical activity in the brain using small electrodes placed on the scalp. Easier and cheaper to use than the standard functional magnetic resonance imaging test, a new EEG procedure can accurately measure the distress caused by tinnitus, writes Jeff Renaud in the Medical Xpress. Because there are no objective markers for tinnitus, diagnosis and treatments are complicated, write  Andrea Piarulli and fellow researchers in a study published in Brain Communications. However, "the combination of EEG with sophisticated classification procedures may reveal biomarkers that can identify tinnitus and accurately differentiate different levels of distress experienced by patients." This new procedure can accurately: Dist...

"Mounting evidence—from scientific studies and case reports—suggests that there might be a connection between COVID vaccines and rare cases of severe tinnitus," reports Tara Haelle at National Geographic. However, the CDC disputes the connection and says it will not pursue a study. The reason is that tinnitus is linked to about 200 disorders: it can be caused by everything from the common cold and age-related hearing loss to earwax blockage and taking certain medications. Also, a study that compared how many people were diagnosed with new-onset tinnitus 21 days after the COVID vaccine versus other common vaccinations found that the other common vaccinations were higher. Just because it's low risk doesn't help the approximately 16,000 Americans who got some form of tinnitus after getting their COVID shots. One theory is that the vaccines and boosters may be interacting with pre-existing risk factors for tinnitus. This seems to indicate, then, that the first vaccine w...

Tinnitus affects both men and women, but research suggests that women may be more susceptible to the condition due to hormonal fluctuations throughout their lifetime. Why Perimenopause and Menopause Can Lead to Tinnitus Perimenopause is the period leading up to menopause when a woman's body undergoes hormonal changes. During perimenopause, estrogen levels fluctuate, which can cause a range of symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia. Studies have shown that hormonal changes during perimenopause can also contribute to the development or worsening of tinnitus in some women. During menopause, which marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle, there's a decrease in hormone production, primarily estrogen. We all know that the reduction in estrogen levels has been linked to various health concerns, including osteoporosis and heart disease.  Research also suggests that the decrease in estrogen levels may contribute to the development or worsening of tinnitus in wo...

The short answer is: Yes, allergies can cause tinnitus. Hearing loss, too.  Allergy-related tinnitus is typically due to the congestion that allergies cause. Anything from allergic rhinitis (hay fever) to sinus infections increases the risk of developing tinnitus.  Basically anything that affects the nasal and sinus passages can lead to tinnitus. That's because when allergies affect the nasal passages and sinuses, they can cause inflammation and swelling, leading to congestion and pressure changes in the ear. This pressure change can lead to tinnitus. Allergy meds can be a problem too Tinnitus can also be a side effect of certain medications used to treat allergies, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin. These medications can potentially cause tinnitus as a side effect, especially when taken in high doses. Other causes of tinnitus In addition to allergies, there are several other causes of tinnitus. In some cases, tinnitus can be a symptom of an u...

We've covered the link between insomnia and tinnitus , with strategies to help manage both. And there's one post on whether melatonin can help reduce tinnitus. But there are a lot more approaches you may not have considered when you're trying to ignore the sounds in your head to get some sleep. Here's a list of ideas: Non-medicinal Approaches Take some cannabis edibles/oil before bed. Strains known for their sleep-inducing properties include Pink Kush, Sedamen, Snowdome and Bubba Kush Whistler according to Canadian Cannabis Clinics . Soak in a hot bath, with epsom salts and lavender oil, before bed. Try a body scan meditation  as a stress reduction exercise during which you focus on other bodily sensations instead of the tinnitus. Have a cup of lemon balm tea or chamomile tea, as part of your stress-lowering evening routine. Try GABA 500 , a supplement that improves sleep. You can get GABA from foods, too, like spinach, sweet potatoes, broccoli and kale. Fermented fo...

There is some evidence that suggests that tinnitus is becoming more prevalent among younger people.  Generally, the 15% of the world population with tinnitus is usually between the ages of 40 and 80, although the most affected are in their 60s. However, there has also been an increase in the number of young people reporting tinnitus symptoms. For example, "data from the 2012 to 2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey ( CHMS ) show that 43% of Canadians aged 16 to 79 (11.5 million) had experienced tinnitus during their lifetime and that 35% had experienced the condition within the past year." The really staggering bit about ages is this: "Younger individuals aged 19 to 29 years were more likely than individuals in the older age groups to have experienced tinnitus in the past year." The good thing is that they say they're not bothered by it. The bottom line? Nearly 60% of college kids says they have some form of tinnitus (chronic, acute, or moderate).  The ages at wh...

If your tinnitus seems worse in the morning, you're not imagining it. Most of us experience a period of silence right after we wake up, so when the tinnitus kicks in, it can make the noises seem more pronounced. Everything from dehydration to your sleeping position and what medications you're taking may be factors.  For instance, reducing blood flow to the ears by sleeping on your side or stomach might make tinnitus worse. Tinnitus can be brought on by dehydration because the amount of fluid in your inner ear is reduced, which can amplify the noises. There are several things that may help lessen tinnitus in the morning and throughout the day: Practice relaxation techniques before bed : Stress and anxiety can worsen tinnitus, so practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation or deep breathing before bed may help reduce symptoms in the morning. Keep hydrated : Dehydration can contribute to tinnitus, so it's important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughou...

While there's still no cure for tinnitus, there are several treatment options that may help alleviate the symptoms, including a relatively new technique called notch therapy (or notched noise therapy). In simple terms, notch therapy is a form of sound therapy that targets the specific frequency of the tinnitus sound. The idea behind this therapy is that by listening to sound frequencies that are similar to but not exactly the same as the tinnitus sound, the brain will "habituate" to the tinnitus and learn to ignore it. The notch therapy process starts with a hearing test to determine the exact frequency of the tinnitus sound. Once that frequency has been identified, a custom sound signal is created, which is then used during the notch therapy sessions. The therapy consists of listening to the custom sound signal for a specific period, usually for an hour each day, over several weeks. So, can notch therapy help with tinnitus? The short answer is, it depends.  While some pe...

Insomnia and tinnitus are two conditions that can severely impact a person's quality of life. Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep, while tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an external source.  While they may seem unrelated, there is a strong link between the two conditions. Research has shown that up to 80% of people with tinnitus also experience some form of sleep disturbance, including insomnia. The constant ringing or buzzing in the ears can make it difficult for people to relax and fall asleep. Conversely, a lack of sleep can exacerbate tinnitus symptoms, leading to a vicious cycle of sleeplessness and increased tinnitus. There are several strategies you can implement immediately to help manage both tinnitus and insomnia. Establish a Relaxing Sleep Environment Creating a relaxing sleep environment can be one of the most effective ways to combat insomnia and tinnitus. Keep your bedroom quiet and cool, and avoid an...