Can Tinnitus cause sleep apnea? What exactly is the Tinnitus and sleep apnea connection? What can you do if your sleep apnea is causing or making your Tinnitus worse? Let’s find out.
Studies Suggesting a Link Between Sleep Apnea and Tinnitus
The most relevant study that tried to examine the link between Sleep Apnea and Tinnitus was a Taiwanese study. In it, almost 22,000 middle aged patients with Tinnitus were studied against a control group of 108,000 people. The study concluded that sleep apnea significantly increased chances of being affected with Tinnitus.
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Another study of about 14,000 Hispanic men concluded that hearing impairment was very common amongst people who suffered from Sleep Apnea. In case you did not know, hearing impairment like hearing loss can eventually lead to conditions like Tinnitus. Our brain is confused with the lack of auditory signals resulting out of hearing loss. So, a ringing (Tinnitus) noise is invented to compensate for that hearing loss.
How Can Sleep Apnea Cause Tinnitus?
There are three possible theories that explain the connection between sleep apnea and Tinnitus.
1 Lower oxygenation caused by reduced blood flow
Your blood is the only source of nutrients to help your ears’ function. When you suffer from sleep apnea, not enough oxygen-carrying blood is is pumped to properly supply the ear’s structures. This can potentially result in Tinnitus. Please note that sleeping orientation does not affect or exacerbate this problem. If you have ringing only when you lie down, read this post about Tinnitus while lying down.
How Severe is Your Tinnitus?
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2 Increased blood pressure
Lack of proper oxygenation causes the body’s sympathetic nervous system to be activated. When the nervous system is activated, blood pressure goes up. This can then affect the ears’ delicate structures that rely on a optimal supply of blood.
3 Hearing Loss caused by loud snoring
Prolonged exposure to loud noises can easily cause hearing loss that can in turn cause Tinnitus. Loud snoring is something that a lot of sleep apnea patients struggle with. Snoring can easily have decibel scores in excess of 85, the cut off for loud noises. Prolonged exposure to these loud snoring sounds can cause or worsen Tinnitus.
You are at Higher Risk of Having Tinnitus from Sleep Apnea if you Belong to the Following Demographics
1 Cardiovascular problems
Do you have heart problems? Sleep apnea might compound your heart function and circulatory problems that can in turn increase your chances of getting Tinnitus or making Tinnitus worse.
2 You are diabetic
Being diabetic gives your body a challenging relationship with sugars you consume. And sugar and Tinnitus have a definite connection.
3 You smoke
Smoking constricts blood vessels and can compound circulatory problems that may be already caused by your sleep apnea problems.
4 You are overweight
Being obese or overweight increases fat deposits along the respiratory tract. This in turn limits muscle activity and quality of breathing. Hypoxic and apneic episodes follow, which then translate into sleep apnea.
What can you do for Tinnitus caused by sleep apnea?
Losing weight, quitting smoking and managing your diet to control your blood pressure and sugar levels can all help.
But, you will probably have the most success with the use of a CPAP machine. A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine ensures a consistent supply of air (oxygen) to your respiratory system.
There are many anecdotal references on the Internet where people have claimed that a CPAP machine has lessened or even made their Tinnitus go away. Also, there are instances of people saying that forgetting to use their CPAP machines has made their Tinnitus instantly worse. There are a number of posts at forums and in the form of comments at various websites that say that even short 30 minute naps without a CPAP machine are enough to trigger an Tinnitus spike.
So, CPAP machines definitely seem capable of helping Tinnitus caused by sleep apnea.
You will need a doctor’s prescription to buy a CPAP machine. Only a doctor can tell you what sort of CPAP machine you need, what delivery system is best for you and what pressure settings you need. Also, you will get insurance reimbursements only if you buy a CPAP machine with a prescription.
While sleep apnea can make your Tinnitus worse, Tinnitus can also make your sleep apnea worse. If your Tinnitus prevents you from sleeping well, here are some posts of ours that will help. Read about the connection between melatonin and Tinnitus here. Melatonin is a non-addictive natural sleep aid. And, here’s a post with general tips we wrote about how to sleep better when your ears ring.
