If you have suffered from tinnitus, then you have probably tried almost anything to stop the constant ringing in the ears. But, have you stopped to consider weight loss as a tinnitus cure? Scientists have identified a link between intracranial hypertension, which causes tinnitus, and obesity. The answer to stopping the ringing may be as simple as weight loss.
The Nerve of Tinnitus!
I apologize in advance for the technical talk. If tinnitus has been persistent for years, then you might be suffering from something called “idiopathic intracranial hypertension.” This is also known as PTC (or pseudotumor cerebri), which is basically extra fluid around the brain resulting in immense pressure. Don’t worry, it isn’t all that scary. “Idiopathic” simply means the cause is unknown. “Pseudotumor” doesn’t mean you have a tumor, but that the symptoms reflect the same results as if there was a tumor present. (Thankfully, there’s not!)
PTC is classified as a neurological disorder because the cerebral nerves are affected by the pressure it creates.
Tinnitus: Your Heart In Your Ear
One of the many symptoms associated with PTC is pulsatile tinnitus. This is when the heartbeat can be felt in the ear! It is like you ear has a whooshing pulse! You may already know there are many causes of tinnitus, from ear damage to chemical poisoning, but pulsatile tinnitus is specifically caused by brain blood vessels that become swollen, triggering the cranial nerves into producing ear ringing and pounding sounds in the ear that are in time with your heartbeat.
PTC Symptoms
The most common symptoms of PTC are the following, though worse when coughing or sneezing:
- Altered sense of smell
- Disorientation
- Double vision
- Headache
- Muscular feebleness, including facial muscles
- Nausea
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Numbness in the hands and feet
- Pulsatile tinnitus
- Untreated, may lead to vision loss
- Vomiting
Tinnitus and Obesity
Similar to many medical scenarios, scientists cannot ascertain the exact cause of PTC. However, they have seemed to identify a connection in people between obesity and tinnitus, as previously mentioned. Many studies have also been conducted linking elevated cerebrospinal fluid with severe headaches, pulsatile tinnitus and morbid obesity.
Losing weight has many benefits, including relieving PTC and pulsatile tinnitus. The following study summary has proven this.
- 16 women with body mass indexes (BMIs) from 33 to 70 (the median being 45, over 30 is obese) had weight loss surgery.
- All women suffered from pulsatile tinnitus.
- After the weight loss surgery, women lost between 55 and 218 pounds, averaging about 100 pounds per person.
- Before the weight loss surgery, average cerebrospinal fluid pressure measured at 344 mm H2O.
- After surgery, cerebrospinal fluid pressure was 198 mm H2O.
- 13 out of 16 patients reported a complete cessation of pulsatile tinnitus symptoms.
- Scientists concluded that losing weight is effective at relieving pulsatile tinnitus and PTC.
Bye-Bye Tinnitus
If you are obese or overweight and weight loss surgery is not an option, Home Cures That Work provides you with other effective and natural ways to relieve tinnitus symptoms and the aweful ringing in the ears:
Lose weight naturally.
Even if you are considering weight loss surgery, the importance is of a healthy diet should be not underestimated. So why not bypass the gastric bypass, and lose weight the good old-fashioned way? Scientifically speaking, if you expend more energy than you put in, then you will lose weight. Exercise more, and count your calories by following a food diary.
Limit salt.
Salt is known to cause swelling, and by limiting your salt intake, you decrease your chances for suffering from stroke, heart attack, and tinnitus.
Try natural supplements.
Many vitamins, herbs, and holistic medicines are helpful for alleviating tinnitus by reducing blood pressure. Some good ones to try are ginkgo biloba, black cohosh, Coffea cruda, and Carbo vegetabilis.
