Are Stress and Tinnitus Connected?

Tinnitus is an incurable hearing symptom that affects about one in 10 adults, especially those over the age of 60. In older adults, it’s often a sign of the aging process linked to sensory hair cell damage and hearing loss. Even so, tinnitus can affect people of all ages. Although you can’t stop the aging process, you can exercise some control over the following risk factors (among others):

• Excess noise exposure
• Smoking
• Lack of sleep
• Stress

The first three are caused by physical behaviors (the way we treat our bodies), but the last can be caused by thoughts and emotions. It’s easy to understand how we can avoid physical risk factors like loud noises, eliminate habits like smoking, and make sure we get adequate rest, but is stress really something you can avoid? Aren’t we all susceptible to a certain amount of stress as a side effect of our modern lifestyles? Before we answer that question, let’s take a look at how stress and tinnitus are linked.

Stress and its impact

When we feel stressed by things in our environment (noises, people, social activities, deadlines, bad news) or from inner worries and fears, our bodies react physically. Hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline course through our bodies, preparing us for real emergencies that are usually just false alarms. When everyday stressors constantly trigger this system, it harms our bodies in ways we’re only beginning to understand. According to many studies, hearing health is one of the unfortunate victims. Higher instances of tinnitus have been linked with stress-related symptoms.   

It makes sense that a brain-generated ‘sound’ could be caused by an overactive fight-or-flight system. When your body thinks it’s under duress, it often responds in strange ways. So what can you do to stop these harmful effects to your hearing? Here are a few tips for stress management that can help prevent or even relieve tinnitus at every age.

Eliminate your stressors

Eliminate as many “stressors” as you can – a schedule that’s too packed, an emotionally draining relationship, constant noise

• Fight stress with relaxing activities. Taking a little time to find a quiet place, practice some yoga, read a book, or otherwise do something you consider fun and relaxing is a good way to combat and counteract stress you can’t control with a flood of positive, “feel-good” endorphins.
• Practice being positive. It can be hard not to let stress get to you, but staying positive, encouraging yourself (even verbally) can go a long way to helping you manage daily stress.

Avoiding stress isn’t always possible, but counteracting and managing it is. Eliminating one more risk factor for tinnitus can help keep your mind and hearing healthy for years to come.

Is one of your stresses dealing with the effects of tinnitus itself? Contact a hearing healthcare professional today for treatment and relief.