Imagine a constant ringing, crackling, buzzing or whistling in your ear. Next imagine that it continues all day, all night, every day, without a holiday or vacation. No one else hears this noise because it’s really only in your head. You’re the only person in the room who can hear the noise. Don’t worry it is not your imagination playing tricks. When you add this incessant background noise to the normal sounds of daily life, the tinnitus sufferer will find it challenging to keep up with any conversation.
One in Five Americans Experience Tinnitus
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates 15% of the USA population or 50 million people experience this condition. This statistic translates to 1 in 5 people. Tinnitus is not a condition itself. Rather, it is a symptom of an underlying condition. Tinnitus can be related to age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or even a circulatory system disorder. Common causes include excessive or cumulative noise exposure. Head and neck injuries, and ear infections as also possible causes.
While annoying and bothersome, tinnitus usually is not a sign of something serious. Always see a qualified health professional to rule out that the ringing in the ears is not a symptom of another condition.
What can you do if the ringing in your ears is not caused by an underlying health condition? There are not many choices for treatment. Most options seek to reduce your perception of the noise. This includes the use of white noise machines and other noise-masking devices.
Acupuncture – An Alternative Treatment Option for Tinnitus
Research has shown that acupuncture is effective treatment for the alleviation of tinnitus. A research team in Sichuan, China, achieved significant positive patient outcomes by employing the use of electrical stimulation to acupuncture points. Treatment time varied between 10 to 15 visits.
This is important given that there are few other few effective treatment options. While every person is different and results can vary greatly, we have been seen good results with using acupuncture in these cases. Patients are thrilled to have their tinnitus greatly reduced. In some cases a series of acupuncture treatments can provided complete remission.
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Have a challenging health concern, like tinnitus? Contact us today for a phone consultation.