ringing in ears Archives - Amazing Health Advances

5-Steps to Relieve Tinnitus

The AHA! Team — Mon, 27 May 2024 08:03:23 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – My patient T.K. was a wreck. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a week. I asked him what was going on. “It’s nothing you can fix, doc,” he said. “I’ve been to three specialists, and they all told me the same thing… “I’ve got tinnitus, and I just have to live with it.” Luckily, I was able to help him. Tinnitus is an aggravating, nerve-racking, and unseen condition. The constant ringing in your ears robs you of sleep, makes you miserable as it drowns out your hearing, and, over time, makes you more prone to illness. Tinnitus also shatters your focus and concentration. Sadly, up to 25% of the U.S. population suffers from the condition.1 And that number skyrockets to up to 90% of people who are hearing-impaired. And standard medicine can’t do a darn thing to fix it. There’s no drug that cures tinnitus. But there are plenty of Big Pharma pills that can CAUSE it… The most common are analgesic drugs. These pain relievers are available by prescription and over the counter. Examples of analgesic painkillers include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories like Advil, Aleve, and Motrin; the acetaminophen in Tylenol, Excedrin, and NyQuil; and old-fashioned aspirin. But it’s not just painkillers that damage your ears. Blood pressure medications like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, cancer drugs, and certain antibiotics can cause or worsen tinnitus. Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants – Big Medicine’s “solution” to treat the symptoms – are known to actually increase the ringing in the ears.2 Another preventable cause of tinnitus is aspartame, the most common artificial sweetener on the market. Aspartame, which has been deemed safe by the FDA, is known as an “excitatory neurotransmitter.” It increases electrical activity in the brain, specifically in the auditory cortex. Use my 5-step protocol to relieve tinnitus For years, I’ve treated patients with a simple five-step protocol. Ditch your ear-damaging pain relievers. Taking an NSAID for the occasional aches and pain typically isn’t a problem. But if you find yourself reaching for one of these pills regularly, consider replacing it with a natural alternative… Tulsi (holy basil): This powerful adaptogen reduces inflammation. It also contains ursolic acid, which inhibits the production of the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme. I recommend taking 150 mg three times a day. Indian Frankincense — Indian Frankincense, also known as Boswellia, “significantly increases” both pain threshold and pain tolerance. Researchers even recommend it as a treatment for osteoarthritis.3 I suggest 400 mg three times a day. White Willow Bark. This plant contains salicin, the same compound found in aspirin. Studies show it relieves arthritis pain as well as lower back pain.4 I recommend 240 mg per day. Lower blood pressure with my favorite supplement. Studies show boosting CoQ10 can drop blood pressure an amazing 11 to 17 mmHg in systolic pressure and 8 to 10 mmHg in diastolic pressure.5 I recommend taking 100 mg daily until your blood pressure is controlled. At that point, you can drop to 60 mg. And make sure you take the ubiquinol form of CoQ10 – it’s the most potent. Protect your ears with omega-3. The Blue Mountain Hearing Study followed almost 3,000 people for eight years. The researchers found those with the highest intake of omega-3 had a 42% lower risk of hearing loss.6 I recommend taking 1,000 mg of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA each day. Look for a formula made from calamari oil. It has one of the highest concentrations of DHA available. Turn down the noise with ginkgo biloba. Over 40 clinical studies show ginkgo eases tinnitus. For example, one study had tinnitus patients take ginkgo or a placebo. After 12 weeks, the ginkgo group had reduced ringing.7 Take 80 mg three times a day. But make sure your ginkgo contains at least 24% “flavone glycosides” and 6% “terpene lactones.” Try this for trauma-related tinnitus. If your tinnitus was caused by exposure to loud noises, I recommend you use the brain-booster vinpocetine for relief. It’s widely used in Europe and Japan, but doctors in the Americas don’t know much about it. In one study, tinnitus disappeared in half of those who took it within one week of trauma. But even if you don’t take it right away, it can lessen the severity. Despite the time lapse since the trauma, 66% saw a significant decrease. I recommend 20 mg a day.8 To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Bhatt J, et al. “Tinnitus epidemiology: prevalence, severity, exposures and treatment patterns in the United States.” JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016 Oct 1; 142(10): 959–965. 2. Tang Z and Trussell L. “Serotonergic modulation of sensory representation in a central multisensory circuit is pathway specific.” Cell Rep. 2017;20(8):1844-1854. 3. Yu G, et al. “Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” BMC Complement Ther Med. 2020:20(1). 4. Chrubasik S., et al. “Treatment of low back pain exacerbations with willow bark extract: A randomized double-blind study.” Am J Med. 2000. 5. Rosenfeldt FL, et al. “Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of hypertension: a meta-analysis of the clinical trials.” J Hum Hypertens. 2007;21(4):297-306. 6. Gopinath B, et al. “Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and fish and risk of age-related hearing loss.” Am J Clin Nutr. 2010; 92( 2): 416-421 7. Morgenstern C. et al., “The efficacy of Ginkgo special extract EGb 761 in patients with tinnitus.” Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2002; 40(5): 188-97. 8. Konopka W, et al. “Treatment results of acoustic trauma.” Otolaryngol Pol. 1997;51 Suppl 25:281-4. To read the original article click here.

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What is Safe Listening?

AHA Publisher — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 08:00:16 +0000

Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D. via News-Medical – Scientists have revealed that noise-induced hearing loss is irreversible. This is because exposure to loud sounds for a substantial period causes fatigue of the ear’s sensory cells. When an individual is exposed to loud noise for a brief period, many times, they experience temporary hearing loss or a ringing sensation in the ear, which is referred to as tinnitus. The hearing improves as the sensory cells recover. Safe listening ensures sound-related entertaining activities without harming one’s hearing. Can Loud Sound Cause a Loss of Hearing Ability? When a person is subjected to loud music, such as in a concert, they often experience tinnitus and this condition improves as the sensory cells recover. However, in other instances when a person is exposed to a loud, persistent, regular, or prolonged noise, it causes severe damage to sensory cells and other structures. These damages could cause permanent hearing loss. The impact of a high-frequency range, i.e., a high-pitched sound, might not be realized immediately. Scientists observed that continued exposure to this frequency of sound could lead to a steady progression of hearing loss, which may ultimately affect speech comprehension. Hearing loss affects the overall quality of life of an individual. Studies have shown that some people are at a greater risk of suffering noise-induced hearing loss than others. Some conditions that increase the possibility of acquiring noise-induced hearing loss include genetic predisposition, cigarette smoke, and chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes). Hearing loss impacts an individual’s social and educational growth. It also affects their ability to work. Some of the common outcomes of hearing loss are learning disabilities, attention-seeking behaviors, psychological stress, and anxiety. In younger children, noise-induced hearing loss hinders their language acquisition ability. Scientists have also revealed that exposure to chronic noise in classrooms inhibits academic performance related to reading ability, short- and long-term memory, and comprehension. Inadequate hearing protection during certain activities, such as shooting firearms or listening to loud music during adolescence, increases the possibility of communication difficulty in the later years of life. What is Safe Listening? Safe listening predominantly depends on three factors, i.e., intensity, duration, and frequency of one’s exposure to loud noise. These three factors constitute the overall levels of sound energy that an individual’s ears are subjected to. Scientists have revealed that the total amount of sound energy a person can safely receive is constant. Hence, the same amount of energy can be introduced to a person at a lower intensity, i.e., decreased volume, for a prolonged period, whereas, louder sounds can only be perceived for a short duration. Permissible Levels of Daily Exposure to Noise The permissible level of daily noise exposure has been determined based on the total permissible ‘dose’ of sound. Researchers have suggested eighty-five decibels (dB) to be the highest safe exposure level up to a maximum of eight hours. Typically, the permissible exposure level of sound is calculated for occupational settings and recreational settings. The permissible duration of safe listening decreases as the volume of sound increases. For instance, if the sound is 100 dB, which is as much sound generated by a subway train, a person can be exposed to this noise safely for only fifteen minutes each day. Very few people are aware of or practice safe listening. Typically, users of personal audio devices set the volume between 75 and 105 dB. At discotheques and nightclubs, the average sound levels range between104 to 112 dB, and noise levels at a pop concert can rise even higher. Noise levels generated at sporting venues, such as football and cricket grounds, ranging from 80 dB to 117 dB. Even a brief duration of exposure to a high-decibel level of sound can be harmful. How to Prevent Noise-induced Hearing Loss? Several methods can be implemented to prevent noise-induced hearing loss, which is discussed below: (a) Lowering the volume: Studies have shown that even a small reduction in volume offers significant protection. The use of earplugs in places with high volume settings, such as nightclubs and discotheques, or reducing the volume while listening to personal audio devices could be beneficial. Several studies have shown that well-inserted earplugs can reduce exposure by 5 to 45 dB. The use of noise cancellation earphones and headphones is designed in such a way that music can be heard clearly at a lower volume. Additionally, as it eliminates the background noise, the user will be more inclined to reduce the volume. (b) Restricting time spent in a noisy environment: The duration of being exposed to loud noise could be minimized by taking short listening breaks. In a noisy venue, people should keep far away from the source of the sound (e.g., loudspeakers). Additionally, limiting the daily use of personal audio devices to less than one hour per day could reduce the level of exposure, substantially. (c) Monitoring safe listening levels: People must be better informed regarding the benefits of safe listening. Smartphone technology could be effectively used to monitor the exposure levels and inform users regarding the risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss. A user-friendly application could be developed which could monitor the intensity levels in decibels and indicate if the level is risky. (d) Paying heed to the signs of hearing loss: When an individual suspects hearing loss, for instance, having difficulty in hearing alarm clocks, doorbells, or telephones, one should seek medical help immediately. Sources: Make Listening Safe. (2022) [Online] Available at: www.who.int/…/MLS_Brochure_English_lowres_for_web.pdf Healthy headphone use: How loud and how long? (2020) [Online] Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/healthy-headphone-use-how-loud-and-how-long-2020072220565 Safe listening devices and systems: a WHO-ITU global standard. (2019) Geneva: World Health Organization and International Telecommunication. [Online] Available at: www.itu.int/…/Safe_listening_standard.pdf Innovation in Augmented Listening Technology. (2019) [Online] Available at: https://publish.illinois.edu/augmentedlistening/how-loud-is-my-audio-device-thinking-about-safe-listening-through-the-new-who-itu-standard/ Gallagher, J, (2015) Cut music to ‘an hour a day’ – WHO. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-31661789 To read the original article click here.

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