Man with tinnitus wants relief

August 31, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: What are the herbal supplements and other products without prescription to combat tinnitus? So far my husband has been taking ginkgo biloba for the ringing in his ears. He saw an acupuncturist and a chiropractor. We are to the point we will try anything.

He is presently on Ativan, presumably to help him sleep, which it does. He takes one before going to bed. Could this be causing the ringing in the ears? These are the only two products he has taken so far.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please help me.

DEAR READER: Tinnitus is described as an extremely annoying ringing (or roaring, whooshing, hissing, clicking, or buzzing) in the ears. [Read more…]

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Ear whooshing troublesome

March 30, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: First of all, I have been checked out by an ear, nose and throat doctor who says everything is okay. I’ve had a normal ultrasound on my carotid arteries and a CT of my aorta. My problem is that I have a pulsation in my right ear. I can hear my heart beat all the time with a “whooshing” sound with each beat. During the day it doesn’t bother me but when I’m trying to go to sleep, it’s awful. I’ve tried ear plugs, listening to white noise and elevating my pillows to no avail. It is interfering with my sleep! I don’t want to resort to sleeping pills but I’m afraid I’m going to have to. What could be causing this? It’s only gotten bad over the past six months. I didn’t notice it before.

I have two full-time jobs. I’m 61 and a grandmother of five. I love life, but there’s not enough time in each day! I’m 5’5” tall, about 160 pounds, not diabetic, but I do take [Read more…]

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Tinnitus treatments

March 17, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Are there any new developments in the treatment of tinnitus that really work? My wife swears by many of your remedies. Your articles are the only reason we get a printed newspaper.

DEAR READER: Tinnitus (noise or ringing in one or both ears) is not a disease but a symptom that points to something wrong in the auditory system. The cause can be something as simple as wax blocking the ear canal, the result of a thyroid abnormality, Meniere’s disease, infection, noise-induced hearing loss, aneurysm or brain tumor and more.
[Read more…]

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Ringing in the ears remedies

December 17, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I’ve noticed several over-the-counter medicines for ringing in the ears. Do any really work?

DEAR READER: I recommend you see a physician or otolaryngologist first to make sure there is no discharge, pain, underlying cause or other undiagnosed reason for your condition. Perhaps you are on a medication with tinnitus as a side effect. Should this be the case, a simple modification of the drug strength or brand might be in order. If nothing is found, there are a number of OTCs you might consider, including Lipo-Flavonoid, lignocaine, melatonin, setraline, botulinum toxin and others. Herbals include ginko biloba, vincamine extracted from periwinkle, or sesame seeds. [Read more…]

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Noise protection is vital

September 1, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: For years, I worked in a heavy-equipment industry that manufactured farm equipment. Though working in an engineering position, I was often exposed to loud noises in the shops for long periods of time. In later years, OSHA required hearing protection. Earlier job training did not warn us of the dangers of loud noise.

I now suffer from a constant ringing in my ears. At 65, I’m in good health and take no medications other than Allegra D for my nasal congestion. My blood pressure is good, and I just had a recent checkup.
[Read more…]

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What’s the buzz all about?

July 7, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Any advice on how to treat tinnitus?

DEAR READER: Yes, but first let me explain the condition. Tinnitus is a roaring, hissing, clicking, buzzing or ringing in the ears that is likely related to an underlying disorder such as ear injury, hearing loss or disorder of the circulatory system.

There are two forms of tinnitus — subjective and objective. The subjective form is common and can be heard only by the person whose ears are affected. This type is generally connected to the outer, middle or inner ear; however, the auditory nerve or portion of [Read more…]

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Is Noise Exposure Cause Of Tinnitus?

February 26, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’m a 62-year-old female and have had tinnitus for more than 20 years. You once wrote about something that would help a person with ringing in the ears. I did construction work for 10 years and had to work in a room with very loud noises all that time. I guess that’s where the problem originated.

DEAR READER:
Tinnitus affects more than 12 million Americans. It is recognized as a ringing, roaring, clicking or hissing in the ear. Causes vary but are often the result of hearing impairment, such as through the noise exposure at your workplace. It can also be a common side effect of many medications.

Your first step is to see an audiologist or otolaryngologist to determine the cause for the tinnitus. Perhaps hearing aids are all that will be required. They are well-advanced in comparison to the large units of a few years ago, and provide great relief for many patients. Maskers might also be recommended to over-ride the ringing you may be hearing. If the problem is medication-induced, simply discontinuing the offending drug should solve the problem. If it is the result of other health issues, these issues should be addressed.

Lipo-Flavonoid is the over-the-counter dietary supplement I probably referred to in a past column. The supplement was specifically developed to relieve the symptoms of Meniere’s disease that includes tinnitus, dizziness and hearing loss. It should be available at your local pharmacy or department store.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Ear Infections and Disorders”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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Daily Column

September 10, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have been diagnosed with tinnitus and told there is nothing I can do for it.

Would you know of an herbal remedy or natural cure I might try?

DEAR READER:
Tinnitus is defined as a noise, ringing, clicking, or buzzing in the ears that affects more than 12 million Americans. Common causes are ears blocked by wax and damage from loud noises such as from lawn mowers, engines and heavy equipment.

Tinnitus isn’t an actual condition, but a symptom of an underlying problem such as injury to the ear, a circulatory system disorder or simple, age-related hearing loss. Less common conditions are Meniere’s disease and acoustic neuromas. Some antibiotics, cancer medications, diuretics, and almost 200 other medications are linked to tinnitus. [Read more…]

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Tinnitus, common yet annoying

January 27, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am in desperate need of your advice on stopping constant buzzing in my ears. It is interfering with my entire life.

My sister has given me the address from your column in hopes that a copy of the article could be sent to me or if you could once again give the solution in your column. Please help.

DEAR READER: You are suffering from a common medical ailment called tinnitus. Your first step ought to be a consultation with an ear-nose-and-throat specialist. Meanwhile I recommend Lipo-Flavonoid — an over-the-counter product to reduce or eliminate the buzzing.

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