11 Feb Ringing in Ears: How Does High Blood Pressure Cause Tinnitus?
Hypertension is associated with many health risks, with the list ranging from heart risks to even tinnitus.
Yes, hypertension is the latest addition to the list of tinnitus causing factors as presented by many researchers.
Tinnitus, a condition characterized by constant ringing sound in the ear, is mainly caused by loud noise or damage of hair cells in the cochlea.
But since the damage to the blood vessels supplying the facial region can also be a contributing factor, hypertension is a possible cause.
Studying this possible link made it easier for many researchers to find out more about the blood pressure tinnitus relationship.
In the following sections, we shuffle through some important evidence to see if high blood pressure can cause ringing in the ears.
Can High Blood Pressure Cause Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is usually diagnosed after:
- Constant ringing sound
- Thumping sound
- Perception of sound without any external source
It is a multifactorial condition that can occur due to various causes like sudden exposure to loud noises, such as concerts or chronic exposure to loud noise.
But what’s new for people is how can high blood pressure cause ringing in the ears!
According to researchers, this is possible because of the proximity of ears and blood vessels supplying the facial region and brain.
In fact, studies don’t just link hypertension with tinnitus but many other conditions affecting your ears as well.
Here’s how does high blood pressure make your ears ring!
How Can High Blood Pressure Cause Ringing in the Ears | Evidence
Here are the studies that establish how does hypertension cause tinnitus…
Study I – Studies the relation between the inner ear and systemic blood pressure
The study was an observational and cross-sectional model observing the effect of reticular vascular changes, because of hypertension, on the inner ear.
This study utilized the following measures for its findings:
- Evaluation of hearing and vestibular symptoms
- Cochlear functioning
- Vestibular function
In total, 42 participants were present for the study of which 21 had arterial hypertension and the rest 21 were healthy.
According to the results:
- Patients with hypertension showed deterioration in hearing
This and many other observations concluded that people with arterial hypertension might show cochlear dysfunction related to vascular diseases.
Study II – Analysis on the association between hypertension and tinnitus
A systematic review was conducted on tinnitus and hypertension.
The review considered 424 articles in total; only 20 worked in favor.
According to the analysis, hypertension and tinnitus have a solid relationship, though the exact cause and reasoning are not yet known.
Study III – Aims at analyzing the presence of hypertension among tinnitus patients
The study aimed to find the presence of arterial hypertension among patients with tinnitus and those without tinnitus.
It also vividly observed the link between anti-hypertensive drugs and tinnitus.
To make these observations, the study used two groups of 144 people suffering from tinnitus and 140 without tinnitus.
Following measures were part of the analysis:
Clinical measures, demographic measures, audiometric observations, and psychoacoustics.
According to the results:
- 44% of the patients suffering tinnitus showed hypertension
- A positive link between tinnitus and anti-hypertensive drugs, ACE inhibitors, potassium-sparing diuretics, and CCBs exists.
Hence, the study concluded that arterial hypertension can be a possible reason behind tinnitus.
Many such blood pressure medications cause tinnitus.
Study IV – Review on numerous studies regarding tinnitus and hypertension
For a more quantitative understanding of high blood pressure and tinnitus, a meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effect model.
This model studies the combined effects of many studies.
In total, 515 studies contributed to the concluding results, including:
- 187 epidemiological study
- 328 literature reviews, experimental studies, and clinical treatments
Out of all these, 20 studies showing 95% CI of association between tinnitus and hypertension were evaluated for forming the conclusion.
In these 20 studies, one study focusing on causes of tinnitus in one ear only was excluded.
At the end of the meta-analysis, the review showed that despite contrasting results of various studies on blood pressure causing tinnitus, hypertension establishes itself as a potent risk factor for tinnitus.
Now, though confirmed, the question was about why does high blood pressure cause tinnitus, and the answer came from renowned physicians and health experts.
Why Does High Blood Pressure Cause Ringing in the Ears?
To understand this, we first need to understand how changes in blood pressure affect the blood vessels:
- It causes changes in the viscosity of blood affecting its flow.
- It reduces the blood flowing through the arteries and capillaries supplying various parts of the body including ears.
- High blood pressure can damage the arterial walls blocking them by forming plaques, often called atherosclerosis.
Since all of these factors affect blood vessels spread throughout the body, it even includes the blood vessels supplying the facial regions and ear.
Because of such effects of high blood pressure on these arteries, the proper functioning of the cochlea can be hindered because of:
1. Damage to the sensory hair – These hairs require good blood circulation for performing their main function, which is converting noise into electrical impulses for the brain. When they are damaged, the sensory hair fails to send these signals causing hearing loss or tinnitus.
2. Less oxygen supply – Hinders the regular functions of the ear.
But blood pressure does not just directly affect your ear, there can also be some other causes of indirect high blood pressure tinnitus. For example:
- Medications used in hypertension can cause tinnitus
- Primary stress responsible for hypertension can also be responsible for the tinnitus
Let’s dissect these influencing factors one by one…
High Blood Pressure Medications and Tinnitus
An investigation was made to analyze the relationship between drugs for high blood pressure and ringing in the ears caused by tinnitus.
According to the brief results of this investigation, cases of tinnitus were higher in the group taking anti-hypertensive drugs.
The percentage of tinnitus was higher in people prescribed with diuretics (27.2%) as compared to people on:
- ACE Inhibitors
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (13.5%)
- Alpha-blockers (21.8%)
- COA reductase inhibitors (12.3%)
Although the study didn’t study any other possible causes of tinnitus in the body that was masked under the hypertension effect, it did confirm the role of antihypertensive drugs in tinnitus.
The possible reasons why anti-hypertensive drugs can be a causative factor for tinnitus are:
- A sudden drop in blood pressure
- Resumed high blood pressure post the effect of drugs subside
However, these drugs usually don’t cause tinnitus. Rather, it’s a side effect, also known as ototoxicity. Some people might suffer due to this.
Ototoxicity of Anti-Hypertensive Drugs
Here are some blood pressure medications that cause tinnitus and how they influence the condition.
#1. Loop Diuretics
The cochlea takes up loop diuretics slowly and hence, it usually doesn’t cause any cochlear dysfunction.
But when there is quite a high dose of loop diuretic going into your system simultaneously with other drugs having a possible ototoxic effect, they can often cause tinnitus and hearing loss too.
A possible mechanism for the same can be damage of the cell junctions in blood vessels, leading to disruption in the arterial cochlear barrier.
This increases the entry of ototoxic drugs into lateral walls, increasing their effects and causing a higher amount of damage to cochlear hair cells.
#2. Beta-Blockers
According to a study conducted over 125 patients with 63 patients on beta-blockers and 62 patients not on Beta-blockers, carvedilol may be a factor behind hearing loss.
There were many beta-blockers studied in this model, but none of them showed as prominent an effect as carvedilol.
Other than medications, the primary cause of high blood pressure is stress induced by the medical condition itself, causing tinnitus symptoms.
How Can Stress Cause Tinnitus/High-Pitched Ringing in Ears
Emotional stress for a long period is linked with many critical health conditions like blood pressure and heart blockage.
In recent years, there has also been some evidence that links chronic stress with hearing problems like tinnitus.
According to a study, emotional stress can not just worsen tinnitus but also be a cause for the beginning of tinnitus.
Participants were observed for the signs of stress among people suffering from chronic or acute tinnitus.
The study was of a cross-sectional model involving 180 patients suffering from:
- Chronic tinnitus
- Subjective tinnitus
They were evaluated using Tinnitus handicap inventory (designed for studying the effect of tinnitus on quality of life.)
Results:
According to the results,
- 117 people out of 180 people had signs of stress
- 52 out of the 117 people were in the resistance phase of tinnitus
- 23 people were in the exhaustion phase of tinnitus
This study showed that there’s an interconnection between the symptoms of stress and tinnitus.
Though the study confirmed the role of stress, here’s an explanation of the exact reason behind the link.
How Does Stress Cause Tinnitus? [Study]
Stress can induce blood pressure that often results in the beginning stages of tinnitus. This sort of tinnitus starts as a rhythmic noise that resembles the thumping sound of the heart.
Secondly, it flares up existing tinnitus by making it impossible for your brain to ignore the constant ringing sound in your ear.
Furthermore, tinnitus and chronic stress can form a constant cycle of irritability and aggravate the symptoms:
- Stress flares up the tinnitus
- When a person can’t ignore tinnitus, he feels more frustrated and hopeless
Hence, tinnitus and stress go hand in hand, and thus you must avoid chronic stress as much as possible.
The best way to prevent tinnitus or treat blood pressure-induced tinnitus is by eliminating the factors that increase your blood pressure.
Treating High Blood Pressure and Ringing in Ears May Go Hand in Hand
The best way to relieve tinnitus caused by blood pressure is by lowering your blood pressure or bringing it back to normal.
Doctors usually recommend the following ways with which you can help keep your blood pressure in the normal range:
#1. Healthy Management of Stress
Stress is one of the most common causes of high blood pressure. Hence, managing stress is important to keep yourself healthy.
Never choose unhealthy ways to balance stress like smoking, drinking, or eating unhealthily. Instead, try out mindful methods of stress management like:
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Swimming
- Listening to soulful music
#2. Daily Exercises
Practicing moderate exercises every day is extremely helpful in managing blood pressure naturally. You can try the following tips for better health:
- Take a brisk walk daily
- Go for cycling
- Take stairs instead of elevators
#3. Reduce Your Caffeine Intake
Caffeine doesn’t cause a permanent rise in blood pressure, but it does cause an acute rise in BP by stimulating the adrenal gland.
The more caffeine you take in a day, the more ups and downs your blood pressure sees which could lead to a chronic illness of high BP.
#4. Reduce Saturated Fat Intake
Diet plays a major role in shaping your health. In the case of blood pressure, eating too many unhealthy fats can cause a rise in the release of:
- Triglycerides
- Glucose
Both of these contribute to coronary artery diseases.
Hence, switch to healthy fibers and polyunsaturated fats for better health.
#5. Reduce Your Salt Consumption
Too much salt in your diet demands your body to hold water to wash away the extra sodium that it has gained.
This causes your blood pressure to rise.
Hence, if you are habitual to taking extra salt as you dine, it’s time to make some new rules.
#6. No Smoking
Smoking releases many chemicals that can make your blood thick, leading to clotting.
This raises your blood pressure and also your risk of many other health hazards.
Read More: Ways to Lower Blood Pressure
Concluding Thoughts
Tinnitus is a multifactorial disorder of the ear that doesn’t have any specific treatment. Tinnitus could either go away on its own or by removing the underlying cause.
For example, in the case of high blood pressure tinnitus, there are chances of tinnitus stopping completely once your blood pressure is normal.
But there are also chances of it not going away.
Hence, it is best to protect your ears from the causative factors of tinnitus where possible. Hopefully, the above analysis on how can high blood pressure cause tinnitus was useful for you.
With this, we come to an end of the blog inviting your queries and comments below. Do hit the like button before leaving if you liked the blog!
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