Tinnitus is a symptom when you hear various sounds even though there are no other sounds around you. Typical sounds include low sounds such as “going,” “buzzing,” or “zee,” and high-pitched sounds such as “whirling,” “beep,” or “meeeee.” The volume and frequency of these sounds vary. In mild cases, small sounds only appear when you are stressed or tired, or you only wake up in a quiet place before going to sleep. In severe cases, you may hear the sounds continuously for 24 hours, while being unable to hear other sounds, feeling mentally distressed, or being unable to talk.
Tinnitus is generally said to occur together with hearing loss. This common condition can cause various stresses, from mild discomfort to insomnia and sometimes depression. Tinnitus can be classified into subjective tinnitus, which can only be heard by the person who has it, and objective tinnitus, which can be heard from outside.
If you suddenly experience tinnitus (acute sensorineural hearing loss), visiting an otolaryngologist early may affect your prognosis. Also, although rare, some cases of tinnitus synchronized with the pulse may be caused by tumors or vascular lesions, so caution is required.
Tinnitus is said to affect approximately 15-20% of the world’s population, and more than 30% of people over 65 years old are said to suffer from tinnitus symptoms. The sounds heard with tinnitus can be a high-pitched “squeak” or a low-pitched “goo.”
In cases where tinnitus continues chronically for an unknown reason, it may be related to ear, brain function, or attention. This is because tinnitus can be caused by a weakening or impaired function of the hair cells in the inner ear, which can be caused by damage to the sensory organs or nerves in the hearing center in the brain.
When mental stress from work or relationships, lifestyle habits such as lack of sleep, or physical stress from the living environment such as noise continues for a long time, the autonomic nervous system can become easily disturbed and tinnitus can occur. Dizziness often occurs at the same time, and these symptoms can become stressful, leading to a vicious cycle that worsens the symptoms.
When there is an explosion near your ears or when listening to music at high volume with headphones, you may experience severe tinnitus immediately, difficulty hearing, or a feeling of blockage in your ears. This is caused by damage to the sensory cells in the cochlea of the inner ear caused by loud noise or impact, and may improve with early treatment.
Many drugs, including antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis, antipyretics and analgesics, as well as antidepressants, drugs to treat diabetes and rheumatism, and diuretics, can damage the inner ear and cause tinnitus. In particular, if you have kidney disease, the drugs are not excreted sufficiently, and the blood concentration of the drugs becomes higher than necessary, making you more likely to experience tinnitus.
Drug therapy, hearing aid therapy, TRT therapy
If a middle ear disease such as chronic otitis media is found, conservative or surgical treatment will be performed.
If the hearing loss is sensorineural, vitamin B12 preparations and circulation improvers are prescribed, and if there is no effect after several months of taking them, Chinese herbal medicines such as Goshajinki-gan, Chotosan, and Saireito are prescribed. If the cause is stress, environmental improvements and stress management are carried out.
Adjusting the autonomic nervous system and improving blood flow to the inner ear. Treatment is given to reactive acupuncture points and reaction points for tenderness, hardness, and muscle tension around the ears and in the back of the neck.
[Prescription example]
Around the ear: ear gate, hearing, wind
Back of neck: Complete bone, Fengchi
As a result, many causes of tinnitus are related to the autonomic nervous system and blood flow. There is no clear evidence of treatment for these symptoms, which are called vague symptoms and are caused by the accumulation of various stresses.
Therefore, at our clinic, nationally qualified specialists will propose custom-made treatments, such as acupuncture, massage, and nutritional guidance, based on reliable information that cannot be found anywhere else, such as high-precision autonomic nerve diagnostic equipment, peripheral blood flow diagnostic equipment, vital signs monitors, and internal oxygen saturation measurements.
Just the symptom of dizziness is painful. It makes you feel negative, creating a vicious cycle that reduces your quality of life and increases various risks. As a specialist, I would like to do my best to help you live a healthy and fulfilling life in both body and mind. If you are worried about this, please contact us.
There has been an increase in vague symptoms (※1) due to the COVID-19 vaccination campaign and increased physical tension caused by wearing masks.
(※1) A condition in which, even after undergoing medical examinations and tests, no clear disease can be identified and the patient complains of a variety of symptoms.
Especially when wearing a mask, breathing through the mouth causes constant muscle tension in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. When this muscle becomes tense, fatigue accumulates and blood circulation becomes poor. When blood circulation is impaired, fatigue substances accumulate, causing pain and numbness. In addition, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes less active, which also affects autonomic nervous system imbalance.
If the sternocleidomastoid muscle is constantly under high tension, it can cause compression of the underlying carotid artery.
When the carotid artery is constricted, blood flow to the cerebrum and auditory organs becomes less smooth.
Each part of the brain is subdivided into various regions, each with a different function. For example, the cerebral cortex is subdivided into 52 regions based on differences in cytoarchitecture. Such functional localization exists throughout the central nervous system, and in the spinal cord, each segment has a somatic localization that has somatosensory and motor functions for the hands and feet. If the supply of oxygen to the brain is reduced, nutrients to each cell will be impeded, which may lead to a decline in function.
We work to improve patients’ tinnitus by programming ultrasound, ultrasound medical equipment, manual therapy, and rehabilitation exercises.
The values obtained using ultrasound are indicators for medical treatment. By comparing the values with the original values, more accurate treatment is possible.
The neck is a complex web of muscles and nerves, and large blood vessels that send nutrients to the brain pass through it. By performing breathing exercises and correcting posture, we aim to increase the range of motion and improve flexibility. In order to achieve early improvement, we provide individual counseling, customized treatments, and made-to-order treatments.
Ultrasound is applied to pinpoint areas with either a non-thermal or thermal effect.
Ultrasound → Deep heat increases blood flow to the spinal artery and arterial plexus.
In addition, by using a combined high-frequency and ultrasound therapy device (Astron), we can expect the effects of relieving muscle tension and suppressing the transmission of pain with high frequency.
When caring for yourself at home, it is important to follow these precautions:
*Changes in effectiveness: If pain increases or new symptoms appear, stop immediately and consult a medical professional.
Take your time: It’s important to take your time. If you rush it, your muscles won’t relax properly and you won’t get the benefits.
*Moderate intensity: Care that is too intense may damage muscles. If you feel pain, reduce the intensity or stop.
Balance is not only a problem of muscles and bones, but a tense body also makes breathing shallow, lowers the metabolism of the whole body, and is said to be the cause of vague symptoms and incurable diseases. We will teach you easy exercises that you can do at home.
Using the ICF classification, which is also used by medical institutions, we will analyze your living environment and provide customized treatment for each individual patient. Tinnitus is not a symptom that you should give up on. First, let us hear your story. We will start treatment early and work to improve your condition.
Certified physician of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, Japanese Circulation Specialist, Member of the Japanese Society of Hypertension, Japan Diabetes Association Supervisor, Certified Industrial Physician of the Japan Medical Association, Certified Specialist of the Japanese Society of Travel Medicine, Member of the Japanese Society of Allergy, Cardiac Rehabilitation Instructor
Nice to meet you, my name is Ikeda from Tachikawa Clinic.
I have worked in university hospitals and other institutions until now, focusing on the treatment of lifestyle-related diseases such as high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes.
In particular, cardiac rehabilitation treatment for patients with heart disease (myocardial infarction, angina, heart failure, aortic disease) after treatment has been my life’s work.
In addition to treating heart disease, restoring function to the entire body is essential to improving the quality of our lives, and is also the medical care we aim for.
While providing rehabilitation with an eye toward functional recovery, I have not only focused on improving current conditions, but also on preventing disease.
Health means paying close attention to nutrition, exercise, rest, and treatment, and we believe that in order to keep the body free from illness, it is important to always live a health-conscious lifestyle.
This partnership marks the seventh year since our previous clinic was established, and what’s great about them is that as part of their paramedical team, nationally certified professionals practice massage and acupuncture with an eye toward contributing to the community, and they provide treatment tailored to the symptoms and condition of each individual patient.
※This is a personal opinion.
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