Are You Suffering From Any of These Symptoms as a Result of Tinnitus? Call Today for a Consultation.
■ Mild to severe anxiety
■ Depression
■ Insomnia
■ Negative thinking
■ Triggered fight or flight
■ Crying spells
■ Hopelessness
■ Ringing in the ears
■ Suicidal thoughts
Are you growing more isolated? Do you feel like life will never be the same? Are you refraining from activities that you enjoy? Are you fearful of losing your job? Do you find that your thoughts tend to be negative?
If you answered yes to 3 or more of these questions or symptoms, then we can help. You may be a candidate for Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy, or TCRT.
With over 20 years of clinical experience, Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R developed Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy and founded the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in response to the growing number of Tinnitus sufferers coming to his private practice.
He discovered that by helping people to retrain and reinterpret the thoughts around their Tinnitus, anxiety and depression symptoms began to improve. But even more important so did the Tinnitus.
Do you suffer from a ringing in the ears that’s happening all too often? If so, then there’s a chance that you’re suffering from tinnitus – but don’t worry, since there are several natural treatment options out there which can help. Most experts view tinnitus as a condition which causes ringing in the ears, however, this can also be manifested as other abnormal sounds and sensations. For many, tinnitus symptoms will eventually go away as the ears adjust, however, if you have been dealing with tinnitus for some time, you might want to try one of these natural treatment options.
#1. Counseling and Coping Strategies:
Experts recommend that patients suffering with tinnitus become as educated as possible about the condition and learn how to best deal with the symptoms. This could include getting educated on biofeedback in order to control your stress reaction to tinnitus sounds, for example. If tinnitus is really beginning to get you down or make you anxious, then talking with a counselor can help you manage the emotional side effects.
#2. Avoiding Prescription Drugs or Alcohol:
Research has shown that some prescription and over-the-counter drugs, even simple painkillers, have been known to make the symptoms of tinnitus worse. Smoking, and drinking too much alcohol, are also linked to tinnitus and can worsen the symptoms. If you believe that your medication could be the root cause of your tinnitus, then speak to your doctor about lowering your dose or switching to a different brand.
#3. De-Stress:
If you are super stressed all the time, then this can lead to inflammation in your body, a main cause of tinnitus and other ear problems such as infections and vertigo. Along with that, being stressed out can make dealing with the symptoms of tinnitus worse due to the fact that it changes how your brain reacts to the sounds heard. Chronic stress can reduce your immunity and make you more susceptible to infections, nerve damage, allergies and other ear problems. Natural stress relievers such as exercise, yoga, meditation, and calming essential oils can help tackle a tinnitus problem brought on by stress.
#4. Remove Earwax:
If you have excessive earwax, this could be a main contributing factor to your tinnitus symptoms. However, be careful when dealing with this – putting q-tips or anything else into your ear to clean it can actually contribute to blockages and damage. If you are worried that you have too much earwax which could be causing a health problem, then speak to your doctor about having it drained.
Call today for a free 15min phone consultation 646-213-2321
Pulsatile tinnitus refers to a sound that is generated in the ears as a result, usually, of blood flow problems. This causes the sound to vary with your heartbeat. Dr. Stephen Geller Katz a top Manhattan tinnitus treatment psychotherapist, explains that your pulsatile tinnitus may occur in only one ear. “Although it is sometimes difficult to determine the cause of tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus is usually the result of a problem with blood flow to the ear.”
Pulsatile Tinnitus is Caused by Blood Vessel Disorders
The heart usually beats between 60 and 100 times each minutes, and that heartbeat is reflected throughout the circulatory system. If you have a problem with your blood vessels, such as a tumor pressing down on a blood vessel or a cholesterol plaque that is partially occluding a blood vessel, this can result in pulsatile tinnitus with each heartbeat. Even high blood pressure can result in changes in tinnitus as a result of your blood flow. This is why Dr. Stephen Geller Katz, one of New York’s top tinnitus treatment psychotherapists, recommends patients with tinnitus avoid things like caffeine or alcohol, which have an effect on blood pressure. Some people develop tinnitus as a result of an abnormal connection between the arteries and the veins. This is known as an arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, and usually only occurs in one ear.
Classification of Pulsatile Tinnitus
Pulsatile tinnitus can be caused by atherosclerosis, an aortic dissection, aneurysms and other abnormalities of the blood vessels. These can include a proliferation of blood vessels near a tumor. There are many reasons for pulsatile tinnitus, and they are usually classified as “arteriovenous,” “venous,” or “arterial,” depending upon the type of abnormal blood vessel.
Medications for Treatment of Tinnitus
There are a variety of medications used to treat tinnitus, and some of these medications that affect the blood vessels include diuretics (fluid pills) like Lasix, and other pills for blood pressure that include verapamil and nimodipine. Stress reduction with medications like Valium or clonazepam may also cause blood pressure reduction.
Surgical Treatment of Tinnitus
There may be some circumstances in which surgical treatment of tinnitus is useful. Most of these circumstances occur when the patient is suffering from some form of pulsatile tinnitus. For example, if the tinnitus is the result of abnormal blood flow through a vein, the vein may be interrupted, or ligated. Sinuses and abnormal blood flow can sometimes be corrected surgically. An aneurysm may be repaired and tinnitus can diminish as a result. Pulsatile tinnitus is also sometimes classified as objective, as there are real changes in blood flow that can be heard by a practitioner, not just by the patient.
Diet Can Be Helpful
Patients who experience pulsatile tinnitus as a result of blood flow abnormalities can reduce symptoms by reduction of salt in the diet, in order to reduce blood pressure. Abstinence from substances like caffeine and nicotine, both of which increase blood pressure, can be helpful, says Dr. Stephen Geller Katz , a leading Manhattan tinnitus treatment psychotherapist.
If you are suffering from pulsatile tinnitus, call today for your appointment with DrStephen Geller Katz , a leading New York City tinnitus treatment psychotherapist. Help is available for tinnitus, so call for a consultation with an expert in the treatment of tinnitus.
Call today for a free 15min phone consultation 646-213-2321
Tinnitus is a very common symptom that consists of a roaring or ringing sound in the ears. It affects people differently, and treatment may depend upon the cause. However, in many cases, the cause can’t be firmly established, and Dr. Stephen Geller Katz, a leading New York City tinnitus treatment psychotherapist, says some treatments are helpful for all types of tinnitus.
Why Try A Natural Treatment for Tinnitus?
Doctors don’t have one medication that works for all patients with tinnitus. Tinnitus is the result of damage to a structure of the ear, and it results in dampening the external signals, causing the brain to produce internally generated noise. There are a number of treatments that can address the symptoms of tinnitus, no matter what the cause. Herbal treatments are often effective, and they don’t always have the unpleasant side effects that can result from medications. Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs that doctors use to try to reduce symptoms of tinnitus can be poorly tolerated by many patients. Herbal remedies often have centuries of anecdotal evidence, and recent studies have show that there is real science behind the use of supplements, herbs, and other natural treatment strategies.
Herbal Treatments for Tinnitus
Herbal treatments for tinnitus have been effective for many people. These treatments include black cohosh, an herb that improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Rehmannia is an ancient herb that has been in use for centuries in China and other Southeast Asian traditional cultures. Recent studies have shown that rehmannia increases antioxidant activity in the auditory cells, which limits free radical damage that contributes to tinnitus. Gingko biloba is another ancient herbal supplement that is frequently used in modern medicine, particularly in other countries where the use of herbs is more widely understood. Scientific studies have recently shown that gingko biloba is useful for the treatment of a number of disorders, including tinnitus. It is an antioxidant, and it also increases blood circulation.
Vitamins and Minerals
There is strong evidence that vitamin and mineral supplementation can reduce
symptoms associated with tinnitus. One study, published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology, showed that magnesium supplementation helped people with tinnitus improve their symptoms, especially when the tinnitus was related to hearing loss. Another study, by the Institute of Noise Hazards Research, found that many people with tinnitus as a result of noise related hearing loss had a deficiency of B12, and these people experienced improvement after supplementation of their diet with vitamin B12. Some people report improvement of symptoms of tinnitus after taking niacin or thiamine supplements. Finally, people with tinnitus may have a zinc deficiency, and a study performed at St. Marianna University School of Medicine in 1997 found that zinc supplementation improved symptoms in these patients.
Does Acupuncture Work?
Controlled studies, the best form of medical evidence, shows that acupuncture can improve tinnitus. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it may be worth a visit to a traditional practitioner of Chinese medicine.
Magnet Therapy
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been shown to affect the circuits of the brain. Early studies show that it can help improve tinnitus. TMS is used to treat depressions, and researchers feel it is probably most useful in treatment of tinnitus among patients who have a large psychological component to their symptoms. Further study is needed, and Stephen Katz, one of NYC’s leading tinnitus treatment psychotherapists says the jury is still out, although evidence points towards some value of TMS therapy for treatment of tinnitus.
Call today for a free 15min phone consultation 646-213-2321
Although many people experience tinnitus for unknown reasons, for some people it is possible to learn the underlying cause. For some, it is related to the type of medication a person is taking. It’s always important to seek out medical care for any type of tinnitus, and to do so before changing any of the medications you may be on.
It is best to always talk to your primary care doctor or the doctor that is prescribing your medications about the symptoms you develop especially if they become severe. You can also talk to your LCSW-R in New York City about tinnitus and treatment options for it.
What Types of Medications Can Cause Tinnitus?
Many types of medications are known to cause tinnitus in some people. It does not occur in all people who take these medications. And, the severity of tinnitus will change from one person to the next. Below are some of the most common medications that are known to cause tinnitus:
Pain medications including over the counter aspirin and ibuprofen. Some people report the condition when taking naproxen.
Some types of antidepressants can cause tinnitus.
Some blood pressure medications and related heart medications can cause tinnitus.
Some types of cancer drugs can also cause tinnitus.
These medications are often necessary for your care. You should not stop taking them if you develop tinnitus. That’s because tinnitus is generally not a condition that is concerning and it does not cause additional symptoms or complications in most people. However, it can be the sign of an underlying vessel concern or other related ear condition that may need further care.
What To Do If Tinnitus Becomes Overwhelming
If you’ve started taking a medication and that medication is causing you to have tinnitus on a consistent basis or even chronically, you can do something about it. You should talk to your LCSW-R in New York City to learn more about the condition and underlying cause. You can talk to your prescribing doctor about it as well. If the condition is too much to just live with, you may be able to switch to another version of the medication you are taking and that can help to reduce the symptoms.
Call today for a free 15min phone consultation 646-213-2321
Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R 19 West 34th Street Penthouse Floor New York, NY 10001
