Ringing, buzzing, whooshing, or clicking sounds in your ear(s) could mean a couple of things:
Let's talk about tinnitus and menopause.
Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing certain sounds that aren’t present. That roaring, hissing, ringing noise could be caused by damage to your inner ear – or it may be caused by the hormonal changes of menopause.
There are two kinds of tinnitus: subjective, the far more common version where only the sufferer hears the noise, and objective, the very rare kind where some internal function of the sufferer’s body, like blood flow or body movement, is actually audible to others. This is also commonly accompanied by headaches.
Lots of loud. Remember when you trooped off to see Huey Lewis and the News’ Sports tour and your mom told you to wear ear protection or you’d regret it when you were older? No? Just me?
Mom wasn’t wrong. One of the major causes of tinnitus is long-term exposure to heavy noise. While one bout of Huey and Co. may only result in short-term tinnitus, too many high-decibel concerts, with too much loud MP3 boogie in-between, can result in permanent damage. Because hearing damage can be cumulative, if you have kids, start bugging them early to "turn it down."
Ear pods. Professor Dean Garstecki of Northwestern University says ear buds that fit directly into the ear can cause more damage than headphones that sit atop the ear — from 6 to 9 dB more. So if you wear the in-your-ear kind, turn the volume down or save them for quiet places where you don't need to crank the sound up to compensate for city or road noise.
Ear stuff. A significant build-up of ear wax, congestion, dirt, hair, etc. can irritate the inner ear and cause that unpleasant ringing sound. Get it out quickly, if you can, as long-term irritation can make tinnitus permanent.
Age. Hearing loss is often accompanied by tinnitus, which is why it’s so common in adults over 60.
Head and neck trauma. Injuries that affect blood flow to the area or impact nerves or muscles can result in tinnitus.
[Got itchy skin? Check out this symptom of the month article on four ways to handle itchy skin in menopause.]
Other, less common causes, include TMJ, a disorder of the joint where the jaw attaches to the skull, sinus pressure, injury from barometric trauma (think SCUBA diving), brain injuries such as concussion, and certain medications.
Tinnitus can be a symptom of a more serious medical issue such as hypo- or hyperthyroidism, anemia, Lyme disease, high blood pressure, etc., so if you’re suffering, please consult with a medical professional.*
If you are worried about ringing in your ear, a Gennev menopause-certified gynecologist can give you a trusted opinion, determine if medication is right for you, and they can provide prescription support. Book an appointment with a doctor here.
The direct cause-and-effect has yet to be established. Because both menopause and tinnitus often happen around the same age, it’s difficult to tell if one causes or worsens the other, or if they’re both just a factor of getting older.
Having said that, many women report increases and decreases in tinnitus that seem to be linked to the rise and fall of their hormone levels. Because women complain of this during pregnancy or around their menstrual periods as well as during perimenopause or menopause, it may not simply be a product of aging.
There is also some evidence to suggest that taking HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or hormonal birth control can worsen tinnitus.
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First, see a doctor to rule out more serious causes. Next …
Tinnitus is fairly common to women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, but that doesn’t mean it’s simply a result of aging or menopause. Because there can be more serious causes, before you sign up for that tai chi class, please consult a doctor. Then sign up for the tai chi class, because it’s good for you.
If you’ve dealt with tinnitus, we’d love to hear what you did / are doing to combat the ringing. Please share with us in the comments below, on the Gennev Facebook page, or in Midlife & Menopause Solutions, our closed Facebook group!
*Thanks to American Tinnitus Association for information relating to the causes of tinnitus. This information is for education only and should not be used as a replacement for professional medical care. If your ears are ringing, go see your doc, hear me?
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