Study: More Coffee May Prevent Your Ears From Ringing
Drinking coffee may prevent tinnitus, or chronic ringing of the ears, according to new research from Brigham and Womens hospital in Boston.
Doctors previously thought that people with tinnitus should give up drinking coffee, in fear that caffeine may increase symptoms. But researchers discovered the opposite.
The study, published in the August edition of the American Journal of Medicine, tracked 65,000 women over a period of 18 years and found that those who drank more coffee reduced their odds of developing the condition.
Compared to women who drank one and a half cups of coffee every day, the incidence of reported tinnitus was 15% lower in women who drank five cups per day. Over the 18-year study, 5,289 total cases of tinnitus were reported.
NewsHour science correspondent Miles OBrien reports on the science behind tinnitus and the search for a cure. This report was originally broadcast on Dec. 17, 2013.
Researchers are still unclear as to exactly how increased caffeine levels affect the condition.
We know that caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, and previous research has demonstrated that caffeine has a direct effect on the inner ear, the studys senior author, Dr. Gary Curhan, said in a press release.
Researchers say that more evidence is needed before they can recommend whether or not tinnitus patients should increase their caffeine intake to improve symptoms.
Tinnitus affects 50 million people throughout the U.S.
Prepare Yourself For Cutting Back
Like any other addiction, you need to prepare yourself for the cravings and withdrawals.
You need to mentally prepare yourself for cutting down on your intake.
Have a plan of action, and stick to your plan.
Keep track of the number of caffeinated beverages that you have throughout the day and begin replacing those drinks with water, fruit juice, or a decaffeinated drink.
Misaligned Atlas And The Ringing Ears
For one thing, a misaligned atlas can affect the structures of the ear. The eustachian tubes, in particular, play a vital role. These tubes drain away excess fluid from the ears so they can drain harmlessly. However, if tube function is inhibited, fluid can build up and lead to tinnitus. Therefore, even when ringing in the ears is caused by a blockage, the problem may still be in the neck.
Don’t Miss: Flavia Coffee Machine How To Use
Warning Disclaimer Use For Publication
WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.
DISCLAIMER: All material available on eHealthMe.com is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. All information is observation-only. Our phase IV clinical studies alone cannot establish cause-effect relationship. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. The use of the eHealthMe site and its content is at your own risk.
If you use this eHealthMe study on publication, please acknowledge it with a citation: study title, URL, accessed date.
Saturated And Trans Fats:
Cheese, butter, red meat, and other saturated fats raise cholesterol levels and can lead to atherosclerosis over time. Atherosclerosis is a known factor that contributes to tinnitus and increases the patient’s risk factor for heart disease and stroke. These can block blood flow, causing plaque to build up in the arteries.
Recommended Reading: Does Folgers Instant Coffee Have Caffeine
Caffeine Intake And Tinnitus Burden
While evidence suggests that caffeine actually reduces tinnitus risk if a person has never had it before, it might make the condition worse if youre already experiencing tinnitus symptoms.
One study of tinnitus sufferers found that caffeine worsened their condition and increased tinnitus annoyance. Tinnitus symptoms improved when people drinking 150 to 300 mL of coffee daily reduced their caffeine intake.
Upper Cervical Chiropractor And Tinnitus
Tinnitus refers to a ringing, buzzing, whistling, or rushing sound in the ear. Do you hear that ringing sound, or is it just me? If you find yourself asking this question , the problem could be tinnitus.
- Why does tinnitus occur?
- How could it be connected to the upper neck?
- Is there a natural way to find relief?
We will address the answers to these questions and more in our article.
SOURCE:Anonymous, Tinnitus Battle,
IncorrectFactually inaccurateInadequate support
FULL CLAIM: Tinnitus Breakthrough Discovered. Your Ears Arent Ringing Its Your Brain 90% of the medications, treatments and therapies for tinnitus simply dont work Because they havent gotten to the ROOT of the cause tinnitus is a disease of the networks connecting the brain, Tinnitus is your first real warning signal that your brain could be dying! Tinnitus 911 pills make your brain immune to it all! Tinnitus, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, dementia, brain tumors
Read Also: Mars Coffee Machines
Foods That May Cause Increased Suffering For Tinnitus Patients
- Date: August 8, 2018
Some people avoid cake and candy. Many forgo their morning coffee, or switch to decaf. For others, its a wistful glance at a bag of potato chips as they walk on by. Whatever your particular trigger food is, youre one of millions who have noticed a definite link between the foods you eat and the loudness of the ringing in your ears.
How Much Caffeine Do We Consume
Caffeine is a white, bitter substance found in plants. The amount of caffeine in foods and drinks varies. For coffee and tea, the amount of caffeine per cup depends on the brand, the type of beans or leaves used, the method of preparation, and the brewing time.
Once released into the bloodstream, caffeine stimulates the central nervous system nerves, brain, and spinal cord to make you feel more alert. Caffeine reduces fatigue and improves concentration. In addition, it stimulates the production of dopamine. That is why everyone loves to have a cup of hot coffee in the morning so much!
According to statistics, the United States is in first place in coffee imports. More than 140 million Americans drink coffee daily, 18% of them prefer specialty coffee. Although we dont consume coffee more than other countries , nevertheless, we shouldnt deny its influence on our health.
Read Also: Au Bon Pain Coffee Caffeine Content
Does Caffeine Help Or Hurt Tinnitus
Recently, a person with tinnitus asked me Does caffeine affect tinnitus? Over the years, hed received both yes and no answers from ear, nose, and throat doctors.
Through my research, Ive come to understand that there isnt a simple yes-or-no answer to this question.
Tinnitus is a condition in which a person perceives a sound such as ringing, roaring, whooshing, or clicking in one or both ears. The perceived sound can range from acute to chronic, and from annoying to debilitating.
In 2014, some good news came from research at Brigham and Womens hospital in Boston that drinking coffee may prevent tinnitus. The study, published in the August edition of the American Journal of Medicine, tracked 65,000 women over a period of 18 years and found that those who drank more coffee reduced their odds of developing the condition. These data were not surprising, since our laboratory had found in preclinical animal models that caffeine can prevent noise-induced hearing loss, and hearing loss often leads to tinnitus.
However, researchers have also learned that there are many sub-types of tinnitus. Therefore, people who have different types of tinnitus may respond differently to caffeine. That may help explain the varied answers this tinnitus patient had received from different ENTs.
For tinnitus-related information, the two scientific websites that I check out often are: 1. Tinnitus Talk 2. PubMed
Meat Dairy Products And Fried Foods:
Another food to avoid, if possible, is fatty meat, specially if flavored with a lot of salt. Some meats, such as ground beef and lamb, are filled with different types of fat. Now it shouldn’t be a problem if you limit your intake, but eating too much fatty meat is not good for your tinnitus. Fat is known to lead to weight gain and cardiovascular problems.
Another type of food you want to cut down on if you have tinnitus is any type of heavy dairy product. You’re thinking, “Really?” Can dairy cause tinnitus? Milk itself is not the culprit when it comes to lactose. The fault lies with all the fat contained in these products. Whole milk, cream, whipped cream, and cheese products are filled with various fats. We’ve already talked about how consuming different fats can lead to diseases like high blood pressure, obesity, and other related conditions. The bad news is that these conditions affect tinnitus and make it worse.
Read Also: How Much Caffeine Is In V8 Energy
Foods That Make Tinnitus Better
1. Mediterranean Diet
This diet is among the best for everyone, especially for those who are suffering from tinnitus.
This diet combines daily exercise with whole grain bread or pasta, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, cheese, as well as yogurt.
The person suffering from tinnitus should have Fish, poultry, eggs, and sweets several times per week, as well as red meat several times a month.
Wine consumption should be moderate as much as possible. The food should be kept close to its original state. Fresh food is way better than processed or packaged food.
2. Banana
There are times when fluid build-up in ear causes tinnitus. In this condition, the only way to relieve the symptoms is to get rid of that excess fluid.
Banana helps to regulate the flow of fluid throughout our body due to its high potassium content. Other sources of potassium are yogurt, spinach, and sweet potato.
3. Pineapple
Pineapple can be chosen as an alternate option if you dont like bananas. They help to reduce inflammation throughout the body including ears. It also helps in reducing the effect of tinnitus on an individual.
4. Vitamin B12 and Zinc
When it comes to combating tinnitus symptoms, these nutrients will be on the front line. Vitamin B12 food sources include salmon, mackerel, and red meat.
Food with higher zinc content includes yogurt, lamb, cashews, and chicken.
5. Garlic
Garlic is really beneficial for a better blood flow which is the basic cause of tinnitus. Hence helping to cure tinnitus.
Korean Health And Nutrition Study
A national population-based survey conducted in Korea showed similar results, but the sample was smaller and the observation period shorter. Health researchers working for the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey looked at 13,500 participants from 2009 to 2012.
Like their American counterparts, the Korean doctors found that tinnitus and hearing loss were less common among people with higher caffeine consumption, especially in the 40 to 60 age group.
The types of coffee study participants drank also had an effect. They found that fresh-brewed coffee was more beneficial, whereas canned coffee could potentially make tinnitus.
Researchers speculated that this might have something to do with the heating, freezing, or treatment of the coffee. These methods can affect coffees bioactive compounds.
Also Check: Black Rifle Caf Caffeine Content
Foods Can Make Tinnitus Worse For Some People
Tinnitus is a warning sign. Often its telling you that something isnt right. That something could be noise, stress, medications, or something else.
Oftentimes, it might just be the foods youre eating or not eating. To find out if your diet is the cause of the ringing in your ears, try keeping a food journal. Note days when its worse and youll likely find that you have some triggers. For instance, many people find that artificial sweeteners and caffeine make it worse.
Some people may find that the ringing in their ears is worse because theyre not getting enough iron in their diet, which may lead to iron deficiency anemia. This condition makes the blood pump harder throughout the body to make sure all the organs get the oxygen they need and can often result in a rushing sound in the ears.
Because tinnitus can be affected by blood pressure, salty foods can also affect your tinnitus.
Risk Factors That Increase Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease
Recent research showed that people with Parkinsons who have a high or medium risk of cardiovascular disease tend to have more problems with walking and memory. While both cardiovascular disease and PD become more common as people get older, this study found that people with poorer cardiovascular health also had worse walking and memory problems, even in the early stages of PD. The study authors suggest that assessment and treatment of vascular health may help improve these patients PD symptoms as well.4,5
Read Also: Movie Stars With Parkinsons Disease
Read Also: Caffeine Free Coffee Brands
Where Can I Find Additional Information About Mnire Disease
NIDCD maintains a directory of organizations that can answer questions and provide printed or electronic information on Ménières. Please see the list of organizations at www.nidcd.nih.gov/directory.
Use the following keywords to help you search for organizations that can answer questions and provide printed or electronic information on Ménières disease:
Read Also: Symptoms Of Parkinsons In Women
Caffeine May Aggravate Existing Tinnitus Symptoms
Research shows that dietary factors play a substantial role in a persons risk of developing tinnitus. This is especially true for diabetes, as it has been found that diabetes can cause tinnitus.
Excess sugar and alcohol consumption and deficiencies in essential nutrients like Vitamin B12 are linked to tinnitus.
Caffeine has beneficial as well as adverse effects on tinnitus.
You May Like: How Much Caffeine In Bai Drinks
Caffeine Withdrawal Can Also Make Tinnitus Worse
While reducing caffeine consumption might improve your tinnitus, you probably shouldnt go cold turkey. An increase in tinnitus annoyance doesnt justify caffeine abstinence.
Caffeine withdrawal can severely aggravate tinnitus symptoms.
On the contrary, the research found that when patients cut out caffeinated drinks altogether, they experienced caffeine withdrawal, severely aggravating their tinnitus symptoms. Tinnitus patients avoided the acute effects of caffeine withdrawal and reduced their tinnitus symptoms by merely cutting their caffeine intake.
Two Types Of Tinnitus
There aretwo types of tinnitus, subjective and objective. Subjective tinnitus, which is much more common, is the type of tinnitus that only the individual can hear. Causes for subjective tinnitus include auditory nerve damage and problems within the outer, middle, or inner ear.
Objective tinnitus, on the other hand, is much rarer and can actually be heard by someone else, like a doctor or audiologist, when they are performing a hearing test. This form of tinnitus is generally caused by muscle spasms, blood vessel issues, or abnormal growth of the middle ear bone.
Read Also: Caffeine And Eliquis
Did You Know That Food And Tinnitus Have A Connection
by Geneva Hearing Services | Dec 4, 2019 | Tinnitus Articles
There is an inconsistency in tinnitus symptoms it seems difficult to identify when and why these sounds happen. At times, it seems like, for no recognizable reason at all, your ears just start buzzing. No matter how long you lie in bed and think about the reason why youre hearing this buzzing, you cant identify any triggers in your day: no noisy music, no shrieking fire alarms, nothing that could explain why your tinnitus chose 9 PM to flare up.
So maybe its the food. We dont typically think about the connection between hearing and food, but theres a bit of research and evidence to suggest that tinnitus can be made worse by certain foods. The key for you is determining what those foods are, so you can steer clear of them.
Frequently Asked Questions And Answers About Tinnitus
Why does tinnitus get louder sometimes ?
Tinnitus might get louder as stress levels rise. If you dont get enough sleep one night, you may feel more stressed and your tinnitus may be louder than on a regular day. Not only that, but getting enough sleep improves our stress tolerance.
How to know if you have tinnitus ?
Tinnitus is characterized by a ringing, roaring, buzzing, hissing, or whistling noise in the ears that can be intermittent or constant. Tinnitus is usually only heard by the individual who has it
Can too much caffeine cause ringing ears?
Caffeine is not a direct cause of tinnitus. However, consuming high amounts of caffeine has negative effects, especially in terms of heart health. Therefore, if you consume large amounts of caffeine, try to reduce it.
Can I drink coffee with tinnitus?
There is no side effect of consuming enough coffee. You can consume coffee while tinnitus continues, but provided it is in sufficient quantity.
You May Like: Can I Drink Coffee After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Youre Still Smoking Yes This Affects Your Hearing Too
Smoking rates have declined over the years, yet there are many people who are still smoking. It can be very hard to quit if youve been smoking for much of your life.
In any case, heres one more reason to re-double your efforts to kick the habit: It may be making your tinnitus worse. In fact, one study found that smokers are 15 percent more likely to suffer from hearing loss than non-smokers. The chemicals in cigarettes can harm the inner ear and constrict the blood vessels that carry blood to your ears, which leads to ringing in the ears.
You Still Have Your Favorites
This list is by no means comprehensive. Youll want to talk to your hearing specialist about any dietary changes you might need to make. And its worth remembering that everyone will be impacted differently by dietary changes, so it might even be worth keeping a food journal where you can track what affects you and by how much.
Knowing what foods can trigger a tinnitus episode can help you make smarter decisions moving forward. When you start tracking what you eatand what happens to your ears afterwardyou might start to notice patterns, and that can take some of the mystery out of your tinnitus symptoms.
If you go for that last cup of coffee, at least you know what youre in for.
Read Also: Mocha Cold Brew Chick Fil A Calories