Ringing ear or tinnitus is not often a single disease. It may be a symptom of some other condition. It is estimated that nearly 36 to 40 million Americans suffer from this problem. It is important to know what causes ringing in ears. This helps the physician suggest further treatment.
One of the most common causes of ringing in the ear is damage to the hearing nerve in the inner ear. The small endings of the hearing nerve are too sensitive and any injury can cause damage, which can lead to the condition of tinnitus.
People, who are exposed to loud noises frequently, are susceptible to ringing in ear problem. However, many people are not aware about the harmful effects of excessive noise, high intensity music and firearms. Age is yet another important reason for developing tinnitus. John Hopkins University study shows that 10% of people aged above 70 years are vulnerable to the ringing ear condition.
Blocked ear canal, ear infection and blocked Eustachian tube are some of the common ringing in the ear causes. Ear infection, especially middle ear infection can trigger tinnitus. It is therefore crucial to protect the middle ear from germs.
Otosclerosis is a condition, in which the sufferer experiences unusual stiffness in the tiny bones of the middle ear. This condition can cause tinnitus. Meniere disease is a disorder in the inner ear, which can cause ringing in the ear. This disease affects either the left or right ear in most cases.
Hearing loss and certain medications like aspirin and some antibiotics can be the causes of ringing in the ear. Temporamandibular Joint Syndrome, which affects the jaw, head and face, can cause ringing ear condition. Injury resulting from a blast or explosion and trauma are common causes of tinnitus.
Ringing ear condition may also occur with some other medical concerns. Hypertension or high blood pressure has close links with tinnitus. Anemia, hypothyroidism, arteriosclerosis, head injury and presbycusis are some of the medical conditions that can cause ringing in the ear.
In rare cases, ringing ear can be caused by heredity. Inherited ear disorders may cause tinnitus. In very few cases, ringing ear can be a symptom of brain tumor or aneurysm, which is a localized widening of vein, artery or the heart.
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