Fluttering in the ear is a medical condition which can be annoying and distressing rather than be life-threatening. In medical terminology fluttering in the ear is referred to as tinnitus.
This irritating condition can interfere with daily activities and cause difficulty in hearing, working, concentrating and sleeping.
This is benign in the beginning but can be severe in the later stages if left untreated. The fluttering in the ear beginning can take the form of a roar in later stages.
What is the fluttering noise in my ear? What has caused this? Is it a serious health hazard? How can I treat this? What has risked this? Are some questions you might be wanting to ask someone.
Hence, we have covered some major topics related to this condition in the post below.
First, calm down! Take a deep breath and keep positive. Tell yourself that you can deal with any hardships that come your way and read out this post. I am sure this will help you a lot.
Table of Contents
What Is Fluttering Of The Ear?
Fluttering in the ear is a medical condition known as tinnitus. It consciously hears a sound that is not produced by any source outside the body. It is usually a symptom of an underlying problem.
In most people, it is a subjective noise that means only the person having the problem can hear it. There are ringing or sizzling sounds in the ears, which can be intermittent or constant. It can occur in one or both ears.
Types Of Fluttering In The Ear
The tinnitus is classified into two categories for the ease of diagnosis:
a. Subjective Tinnitus
It is the condition where fluttering of the ear occurs for a temporary period. This is more common and affects a majority of the people.
b. Objective Tinnitus
It is the condition where fluttering is chronic and heard for a prolonged period. It is concerned with the muscular functions of the ear.
Causes Of Fluttering In The Ear/ Tinnitus?
Many health conditions can cause tinnitus. Mostly, an exact cause is never found.
In many people, tinnitus is caused by one of these conditions:
i. Age-Related
Hearing degrades with age for many people, usually starting around the age of 60. Hearing loss can cause fluttering in the ear.
ii. Loud Noise Exposure
Loud noises, like those from heavy equipment, explosives, and firearms, are common sources of noise-related hearing loss.
Handy music devices, such as iPods can cause noise-related hearing loss if played at a high volume for a long time. Fluttering in the ear caused by short-term exposure to loud noise, such as attending a loud concert, mostly goes away. Long-term exposure to loud noise can cause permanent damage.
iii. Earwax Blockage
Earwax protects your ear canal by slowing down the growth of bacteria and trapping dirt. When a lot of earwax accumulates, it becomes tough to wash away naturally, causing hearing loss, which can lead to tinnitus.You can use these home remedies to get rid of ear wax easily.
iv. Ear Bone Changes
Bone stiffening in the middle ear may affect your hearing and cause tinnitus. This is caused by abnormal growth of bone; it tends to run in families.
Some of the less common causes include:
v. Meniere’s Disease
Fluttering in the ear can be an indicator of Meniere’s disease. It is an inner ear disorder that can be caused by abnormal fluid pressure in the inner ear.
vi. Head Or Neck Injuries
Head or neck injuries can affect the inner ear. Such injuries cause tinnitus in only one ear.
vii. Acoustic Neuroma
This condition mostly causes tinnitus in one ear. It is a noncancerous tumor; this develops on the cranial nerve that runs from your brain to your inner ear and controls balance and hearing.
Causes Of Pulsatile Tinnitus
Another type of tinnitus is due to blood vessel disorders. This is known as pulsatile tinnitus,
Causes include
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Atherosclerosis
With age and build-up of cholesterol, major blood vessels near to your middle and inner ear lose their elasticity — the ability to expand slightly with each heartbeat.
Due to this, the blood in your blood vessels becomes more tensed and forceful. This makes it easy for your ear to detect the beats, you can hear this type of tinnitus.
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Head And Neck Tumours
Another reason for tinnitus could be a tumor pressing on the blood vessels in your head or neck. This is a serious cause and needs medical attention. Don’t ignore if you see any symptom related to this.
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High Blood Pressure
Stress, Hypertension, and factors that increase blood pressure, such caffeine, and alcohol, can make tinnitus more noticeable.
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Turbulent Blood Flow
Narrowing in a neck artery (carotid artery) or vein in your neck (jugular vein) can cause irregular or turbulent blood flow, leading to tinnitus.
Pulsatile tinnitus is a serious condition, and you should immediately seek medical aid.
Sometimes there are some medications that lead to fluttering in the ear and usually make it worse if taken in high dosage:
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Antibiotics
including polymyxin B, erythromycin, vancomycin, and neomycin.
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Quinine Medication
used for malaria and other health conditions.
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Asprin
Taken in uncommonly high dosage (12 or more a day)
Risk Factor Associated WIth Fluttering In The Ear
Tinnitus is a common problem in the general population. It has some risk factors that increase one’s risk of developing the condition.
These Include
a. Loud Noise Exposure
people working as musicians or as construction workers can have to flutter in the ear as an occupational hazard. Even for other people headphones, loud music, explosives can lead to the development of tinnitus.
b. Gender
Men are more prone to tinnitus rather than women.
c. Age
With age the number of functioning nerve fibers in your ear decline causing many ear related problems one of them being tinnitus.
d. Cardiovascular Issues
Conditions that affect your blood flow like high blood pressure and narrow arteries, can increase the risk of tinnitus.
Complications Related To Fluttering In The Ear
Tinnitus affects every person differently but here are some complications that affect most of the people suffering from this condition:
- Stress.
- Fatigue.
- Trouble in concentrating.
- Memory defects.
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Irritability.
The exact cause of tinnitus or fluttering in the ear is quite difficult to pinpoint, but we can take help from our ancestors to treat it. Natural remedies are the best treatment for any of the health problems that you are facing.
These remedies have been in use for centuries, and during old times they were the only method of treatment. We have seen above that one of the causes of fluttering of the ear is medication intake. Hence, it is proof that natural remedies and healing is far most the best way to treat any health problem.
Natural treatment alone cannot show effects; you should also keep in mind that along with the remedies I will advise for the management of tinnitus you should keep your stress levels low by practicing meditation daily. Regular exercise and large water intake are the basics to keeping fit.
Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Fluttering In The Ear
Usually, there is no permanent cure for tinnitus. But there are some remedies that can reduce its intensity and keep it in check. Most people get used to it and can tune it out in their daily routine.
1. Sound Therapy
Sound therapy is a broad term that involves utilization of external noise to mask the patient’s perception of tinnitus. Low-level background sound, special ear maskers or white noise can be very effective.
The sound choice for masking should be pleasant to the individual.
2. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy Or Tinnitus Feedback Therapy
This therapy involves retraining the auditory system to accept the abnormal sounds of tinnitus as natural rather than disruptive.
This involves help from a trained professional and hearing device which emits white sound. TRT requires continuous counseling sessions. This is to assist the individual in coping with the tinnitus.
This therapy’s success is according to the severity of the tinnitus and the individual’s overall mental health. Studies suggest around 80 percent of individuals get some relief of their tinnitus with TRT.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
This is an anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory agent. Hence, can be used to treat any underlying ear infection that may be causing tinnitus.
- Mix 2 apple cider vinegar with a little honey in a glass of water.
- Drink this solution two times a day daily until the ringing stops.
4. Holy Basil
It has anti-bacterial properties. This can help remove any bacterial infection that might be causing the problem.
- Put a handful of leaves in a blender to make a paste.
- Strain the paste to extract juice.
- Warm the juice.
- Put two or three drops in the ear with the help of a dropper.
- Repeat twice daily for three to four days.
5. Garlic
Garlic can treat tinnitus caused by high altitudes or cold weather. It helps reduce inflammation as well as improve blood circulation.
- Fry 2 crushed garlic cloves in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil.
- Strain and let it cool.
- Put two or three drops in the ear canal.
- Repeat daily for a week before going to bed at night.
6. Onion
- Chop one onion into small pieces.
- Microwave the onions for 1-2 minutes.
- Allow it to cool, and then strain out the juice.
- Put 2 or 3 drops of the juice in the infected ear.
- Leave in the ear for five minutes, then turn your head to drain out the juice.
- Do this a few times a week to get rid of tinnitus.
7. Saline Solution
Helps treat tinnitus caused due to blocked nasal passage or excessive fluid in the sinuses.
- Mix one teaspoon of salt and glycerine in two cups of warm water to make a homemade saline solution.
- Inject the solution into each nostril using a nasal spray bottle until it starts to drain into the back of your throat.
Spray the solution into your throat also.
- Follow this remedy three times a day until your nasal passages are clear.
When T See A Doctor?
a. If you have tinnitus that bothers you a lot.
b. If you develop tinnitus after an upper respiratory infection, like cold, and your tinnitus doesn’t improve within a week.
c. If you have hearing loss and dizziness along with tinnitus.
d. You have tinnitus that appears suddenly or without an apparent cause.
e. Please note even though the remedies provided above are safe please keep in check if you have allergies from any of the products, don’t try that remedy.
f. If these remedies don’t help, please seek medical aid.
It is important not to panic in situations where you encounter any health problems. Analyze your situation and act smartly. Don’t ignore your health and any signs given by your body.
Meditate, exercise, intake lots of fluids, eat healthily, live healthily, live happy and stress-free
