Tinnitus is a condition where one can hear sounds and noises that are not caused by outside source or external stimulation. Common tinnitus sounds such as ringing, buzzing, humming or even music or singing can be heard in one or both ears. They may come and go, or you will hear them all the time.

Tinnitus can be annoying as it affects your daily life such as sleep and concentration and impair the quality of life, but it is not usually a sign of serious condition and generally improves overtime. Although there are a number of health conditions that might cause tinnitus, the exact cause is never found. The common causes are:

• Age-related hearing loss
• Exposure to loud noises, short-term or long-term will cause tinnitus as well
• Too much earwax that hardens and is difficult to wash away will lead to blockage and cause irritation to the ear drum
• Medication use that can damage the ear function (ototoxic)
• Blood vessels disorder linked to tinnitus such as atherosclerosis and high blood pressure

In many ways, tinnitus cannot be prevented but we can carry out some measures and simple remedies to help with tinnitus:

• Use hearing protection while exposing yourself to loud noises
• Turn down the volume especially while using headphones
• Practice relaxation exercises as tinnitus can be worsened by stress
• Tinnitus is commonly linked to blood vessels disorders. Therefore, take good care of your heart health such as doing regular exercise as healthy blood vessels can help with tinnitus
• Ginkgo Biloba extract improves blood flow and regulate vascular tone. It provides adequate supply of blood to the ear, which can improve tinnitus caused by impaired circulation