When two conditions occur together, they are said to be comorbidities. A recent study found that one common set of comorbidities is tinnitus and anxiety. We review the link below.
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a phantom ringing, roaring, hissing, whistling, buzzing or humming sound in the ear with no external sound source, especially in quiet settings like Blount County Public Library. There are many possible causes of tinnitus, including exposure to loud noises, impacted earwax, certain medications and more. While there is no cure for tinnitus, sometimes the underlying cause can be treated or symptoms can be managed in other ways.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a blanket term for various types of mental health disorders, but is most commonly associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of GAD include:
- “Feeling restless, wound-up or on edge.
- Being easily fatigued.
- Having difficulty concentrating.
- Being irritable.
- Having headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches or unexplained pains.
- Difficulty controlling feelings of worry.
- Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep.”
Other anxiety disorders include panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobia-related disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The Link Between Tinnitus & Anxiety
According to one study published in the journal Hearing Research, “A 45% lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders is reported in tinnitus populations… Comorbidity is high and screening for and treatment of anxiety disorders is recommended in moderate to severe tinnitus.”
Experts think that this link is due to anxiety and stress being related to increased blood pressure, which is associated with tinnitus.
Not only that, but there is often a vicious cycle you can find yourself in if you experience anxiety and/or tinnitus. Not only can anxiety cause tinnitus, but having tinnitus can make you feel more anxious. This causes a feedback loop where one condition worsens the other.
Treatment for Tinnitus
Tinnitus can be managed with a combination of:
- Hearing aids.
- Tinnitus maskers.
- White noise machines.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy.
- Tinnitus retraining therapy.
Treatment for Anxiety
Anxiety can be treated with a combination of:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy.
- Medication.
- Exercise.
- Deep breathing exercises.
- Mindfulness activities.
For more information about the link between tinnitus and anxiety or to schedule an appointment with a tinnitus expert, call Foothills ENT today.