The Impact of Stress on Tinnitus: What You Need to Know

People with tinnitus experience a ringing, buzzing or hissing sound in their ear(s). The condition affects millions of individuals worldwide and can be anything from a minor annoyance to a debilitating scourge. Unfortunately, the exact causes of tinnitus are not always understood. Some common triggers include ear infections, exposure to traumatic sound (explosions etc). Exposure to loud noise over a prolonged period of time can also trigger tinnitus. Stress is known to aggravate tinnitus and in this brief guide we’ll examine how.

How Stress Impacts Tinnitus

Stress is not believed to cause tinnitus but it can exacerbate the intensity of the tinnitus a person experiences. Studies indicate that people who suffer long-term stress typically report their tinnitus symptoms to be more severe than what others experience. That raises the question “why”?

Stress is known to release both cortisol and adrenaline and it is thought these hormones can increase a person’s sensitivity to sound making their tinnitus seem louder. Furthermore, stress can also create a heightened state of agitation which can cause the brain to be more sensitive to the tinnitus phenomenon.

Stress also reduces a person’s patience and tolerance which can make it harder for them to tune out their tinnitus. This then creates a kind of negative feedback loop: the more the person stresses the harder it is to tune out their tinnitus, and the more aware they are the more the tinnitus increases their stress level, and on and on.

In addition, stress can interfere with a person’s ability to get a restful night’s sleep. This lack of proper sleep serves to increase their stress levels which, in turn, increases their sensitivity to tinnitus.

Contact Harley Street AVM

The link between stress and tinnitus is an insidious one that can create negative feedback loops that worsen both conditions. If you are experiencing tinnitus it is in your best interests to seek professional help. 

The experts at Harley Street AVM can accurately diagnose what type of tinnitus you have, point out possible causes and recommend treatments that could relieve you of some of the worst tinnitus symptoms. Make an appointment at Harley Street AVM today by calling 020 3480 9630.