To Your Health With Dr. Jim Morrow: Episode 28, Coronavirus Update and Tinnitus

To Your Health With Dr. Jim Morrow: Episode 28: Coronavirus Update and Tinnitus

On this edition of “To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow,” Dr. Morrow updates the current information on the coronavirus and also discusses tinnitus, its causes and symptoms, and treatment options for people living with “ringing in the ears.” “To Your Health” is brought to you by Morrow Family Medicine, which brings the CARE back to healthcare.

About Morrow Family Medicine and Dr. Jim Morrow

Morrow Family Medicine is an award-winning, state-of-the-art family practice with offices in Cumming and Milton, Georgia. The practice combines healthcare information technology with old-fashioned care to provide the type of care that many are in search of today. Two physicians, three physician assistants and two nurse practitioners are supported by a knowledgeable and friendly staff to make your visit to Morrow Family Medicine one that will remind you of the way healthcare should be. At Morrow Family Medicine, we like to say we are “bringing the care back to healthcare!” Morrow Family Medicine has been named the “Best of Forsyth” in Family Medicine in all five years of the award, is a three-time consecutive winner of the “Best of North Atlanta” by readers of Appen Media, and the 2019 winner of “Best of Life” in North Fulton County.

Dr. Jim Morrow, Morrow Family Medicine, and Host of “To Your Health With Dr. Jim Morrow”

Dr. Jim Morrow is the founder and CEO of Morrow Family Medicine. He has been a trailblazer and evangelist in the area of healthcare information technology, was named Physician IT Leader of the Year by HIMSS, a HIMSS Davies Award Winner, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce Steve Bloom Award Winner as Entrepreneur of the Year and he received a Phoenix Award as Community Leader of the Year from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Peggie Morrow and together they founded the Forsyth BYOT Benefit, a charity in Forsyth County to support students in need of technology and devices. They have two Goldendoodles, a gaggle of grandchildren and enjoy life on and around Lake Lanier.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorrowFamMed/

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The complete show archive of “To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow” addresses a wide range of health and wellness topics, and can be found at www.toyourhealthradio.com.

Dr. Morrow’s Show Notes

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a problem that causes you to hear a noise in one ear or both ears.
- People commonly think of it as ringing in the ear.
- It also can be roaring, clicking, buzzing, or other sounds.
- Some people who have tinnitus hear a more complex noise that changes over time.
- You may hear the noise constantly, or it may come and go.
In most cases, people who have tinnitus hear noise in their head when no outside sound is there.
- They are the only ones who can hear the sound.
  - This type of tinnitus is called “subjective tinnitus.”
  - It can happen because certain nerves are not functioning normally or because there is a problem with part of your ear.
- In rare cases, tinnitus is caused by an actual sound that occurs inside or near the ear, such as from nearby blood vessels.
  - The sound can also be heard by the doctor examining you.
  - This type of tinnitus is called “objective tinnitus.”
- Another type of tinnitus is”pulsatile tinnitus”
  - This is basically when you can hear your heartbeat in your ear.
  - It can be related to vascular disease
    - but more often than not, it is just you hearing your heartbeat in your ear.
  - The word tinnitus is of Latin origin, meaning “to ring or tinkle.”
    - Tinnitus has two different pronunciations, both of which are correct and interchangeable:
      - ti-NIGHT-us: typically used by patients and laypeople
      - TINN-a-tus: typically used by clinicians and researchers

The Journey of Sound to the Brain

This is how this magic happens:
- Sound waves are captured by the out ear
- They travel through the ear cana to the eardrum
- The eardrum vibrates and causes three little bones to vibrate
  - The malleus, the incus and the stapes.
- These cause vibration in the cochlea where the waves are converted into electrical energy and an impulse is sent down the auditory nerve to the brain.
- The brain interprets the impulse as sound.

So… if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

Included in our show notes will be a link to a YouTube video from NIH about this journey.

https://youtu.be/eQEaiZ2j9oc

Symptoms of tinnitus

The main symptom of tinnitus is hearing sounds in your ears.
- The sound could be ringing.
- It may also sound like blowing, roaring, clicking, buzzing, hissing, or humming.
- The noises can be soft or loud.
- They can be high pitched or low pitched.
- You may hear them in only one ear or in both ears.

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus is not a disease itself.
- It is a symptom of an underlying health problem.
- The following are among the most common causes of tinnitus:

- - Exposure to loud noises,
    - which can lead to noise-induced hearing loss over time.
  - Hearing loss related to aging.
  - Certain medicines that can damage the inner workings of the ear.
    - For example, taking high doses of aspirin every day may lead to tinnitus.
  - Eustachian tube dysfunction.
    - This is the tube that leads from the middle ear to the back of the throat.
  - Infections of the inner ear, such as
    - otitis media or
    - labyrinthitis.
  - Meniere’s disease,
    - an inner-ear condition that involves hearing loss and dizziness.

Other causes:
- Allergies,
- high blood pressure,
- low blood pressure,
- diabetes,
- tumors, and
- head injuries can also cause tinnitus.
- If you have a foreign object in your ear or a build-up of ear wax, you may also experience tinnitus.
In most cases, the cause of tinnitus cannot be identified.

How is tinnitus diagnosed?

Your doctor will probably take a detailed medical history.
- He or she will want to know about any medical conditions you may have and any history of infections.
- Your doctor also needs to know what medicines you are taking,
  - including herbal products or supplements.
- He or she will check your ears.
- They may give you a hearing test.
- They may also order other tests to find out what is causing your tinnitus.
  - These could include
    - a head CT scan,
    - a head MRI scan, or
    - blood vessel studies.
    - Your doctor might refer you to an otolaryngologist.
      - This is a doctor that specializes in the ear, nose, and throat (also called an ENT doctor).

Can tinnitus be prevented or avoided?

To prevent tinnitus or keep it from getting worse,
- avoid long-term exposure to loud noises and activities that put you at risk for hearing loss.
- If you know you’re going to be around loud noises, take precautions by wearing earplugs or earmuffs.
- If you listen to music through headphones, keep the volume low.

If you have tinnitus, avoid things that seem to make it worse.
- These may include:
  - nicotine,
  - alcohol, or
  - cafffeine

Treatment

Treatment will depend on what is causing your tinnitus.
- For example, if a medicine you are taking causes your tinnitus, your doctor may recommend you stop taking that medicine.
  - Remember, you should never stop taking a prescription medicine without talking to your doctor first.
- If an underlying condition, such as high blood pressure, causes your tinnitus,
  - your doctor can create a treatment plan for you to follow.
  - Usually, tinnitus goes away once the condition that is causing it is treated.
- When no specific cause can be identified,
  - your doctor will probably focus on making your tinnitus easier to tolerate.
  - Some possible methods include:

- - Hearing aids:
    - For people who have tinnitus and hearing loss, using a hearing aid may be helpful.
    - When you wear a hearing aid, things you need to hear will be louder than the ringing, buzzing, or clicking sound.
  - Sound generators (maskers):
    - Wearable sound generators can be placed behind your ear and create white noise (constant background noise) or other sounds.
    - This “masks” the tinnitus and makes it less noticeable.
    - Some people also use bedside sound generators to help them sleep.
  - Counseling:
    - Some people who have tinnitus become anxious or depressed.
    - If you have tinnitus and are struggling, seeking help through a counselor and/or a support group may help you cope.
    - Counseling can also be used to teach you how to take the focus off your tinnitus.
  - Tinnitus retraining therapy:
    - This method uses a mix of counseling with maskers or other approaches.
    - The goal is to teach your brain to ignore the sounds you hear.
    - This isn’t a quick fix, but many people find it useful with time and practice.
  - Relaxing:
    - Stress can make tinnitus worse.
    - Your doctor can suggest relaxation techniques that might help you deal with your stress.
  - Medicines:
    - Currently, there are no medicines specifically designed for treating tinnitus.
    - Some medicines, such as certain ones used to treat anxiety, have been shown to relieve tinnitus for some people.
    - Talk to your doctor about whether medicine might relieve your symptoms.

Living with tinnitus

For many people with tinnitus, the condition is just a mild distraction.
- But for some, tinnitus causes distress and negatively affect their quality of life.
- It can cause
  - anxiety,
  - depression,
  - sleep disturbances, and
  - poor concentration.
- To lessen the impact of tinnitus on your life, try the following:

- - Avoid loud noises and sounds.
  - Control your blood pressure.
  - Exercise regularly for good circulation.
  - Get plenty of sleep and avoid fatigue.
  - Take the focus off your tinnitus.
    - Use techniques such as sound generators and counseling to push it to the background.
    - Remember that the more you think about tinnitus, the more bothersome it will become.