Do you have nasal polyps? Do you think your Tinnitus came on or has gotten worse since you got nasal polyps? We explain why and tell you what you can do about it.
Why Nasal Polyps cause Tinnitus?
Nasal Polyps change the pressure in your ear canal which can then cause Tinnitus
Your sinus cavities are ideally supposed to be filled with air. When you have nasal polyps, the cavities are filled up with fluid filled polyps that then begin to block the flow of air in and out of your sinus cavities. You start to feel congested, lose your sense of smell and have persistent nasal discomfort like a runny nose or a postnasal drip.
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Besides causing a lot of nasal discomfort, nasal polyps can also affect your Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube is a very small and narrow tube that runs from your pharynx (throat) to the cavity in your middle ear. It’s sole purpose is to help the pressure in your ear cavity normalize itself with the atmospheric pressure in your environment. Remember the last time you blew air with your mouth closed to make your ears feel normal while up in the skies on an airplane. That was you helping the Eustachian tube do its pressure-equalizing job better.
With sinus polyps, your Eustachian tube begins to falter and the pressure around your ear drums increase. When your ear drums come under constant undue pressure, they can begin to malfunction. This malfunction is then registered in your brain’s auditory cortex. Eventually, your brain thinks something is off with your ears and that you are not hearing the sounds you should be hearing. It therefore invents a compensatory noise that you hear as Tinnitus or a ringing in the ears. Learn more about how nasal polyps affect middle ear function here.
Nasal polyps often lead to a condition called Sinusitis or sinus infection. Chronic sinusitis can cause or worsen Tinnitus as well.
How Severe is Your Tinnitus?
Find out by using this THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) Scoring Calculator
Shrinking or eliminating your nasal polyps will allow your Eustachian tube to restore its functionality. Your ear pressure is normalized and hearing is restored and your Tinnitus intensity lessens or goes away. Unfortunately, treating nasal polyps often leads to a situation where your Tinnitus could get worse. More on this below.
Nasal Polyps treated with Corticosteroids can Make Tinnitus Worse
The number one treatment that doctors prescribe for nasal polyps is the use of corticosteroids. They will first ask you to use nasal spray corticosteroids. If that doesn’t work, you might have to take oral corticosteroids. Sometimes, corticosteroids are injectables.
Corticosteroids are Ototoxic
But, some corticosteroids are ototoxic (Oto = medical term for ears). When a drug is said to be ototoxic, it means that it can potentially harm your ear, specifically your cochlea and auditory nerve. Toxicity to your cochlea and auditory nerve can make your Tinnitus come on or get much worse. For example, oral steroids like prednisone are commonly prescribed for nasal polyps. But, prednisone can cause or worsen your Tinnitus.
Despite there being a strong correlation between corticosteroids and Tinnitus, doctors continue to prescribe steroid doses to treat primary conditions like nasal polyps, without anticipating or considering how it can worsen debilitating conditions like Tinnitus.
Also Read: Your antidepressant could be making your Tinnitus worse!
What can you do if you have Nasal Polyps and Tinnitus?
If you have already begun to take corticosteroids to treat your nasal polyps, you might want to talk to your doctor about ototoxicity. Different drugs have different levels of ototoxicity. Your doctor might be able to find an alternative corticosteroid that is less ototoxic than the one you use.
If you haven’t begun any treatment, it might be prudent to ask your doctor to perform an endoscopic surgery to get rid of your polyps. Your doctor will most probably advise you to use nasal or oral steroids, by recommending something like Flonase for Tinnitus. But, considering how ototoxicity of steroids can worsen your Tinnitus, surgery might be a safer option. The same goes for antihistamines and Tinnitus. It’s a dual-edged sword. It can give you Tinnitus relief but you have the risk of seeing your Tinnitus worsen as well.
Sometimes, nasal polyps can be treated with antibiotics as well. You could ask your doctor if that is a possibility too.
Unfortunately, that’s all you can do to prevent your Tinnitus from getting worse because of your nasal polyps. Also, if you get nasal polyps once, you are likely to get them again. Below are several pointers to help you avoid getting nasal polyps in the future.
How to Avoid Nasal Polyps and Accompanying Tinnitus in the Future?
Nasal polyps have a tendency to come back. But, there are things you can do to minimize the chances of recurrence.
Manage allergies
Allergies cause inflammation that in turn potentially causes nasal polyps. Allergies on their own can cause Tinnitus as well. Here’s a post we wrote about managing your allergies and Tinnitus.
Minimize exposure to irritants
Cigarette smoke, chemical fumes, dust and other allergens can inflame your sinus cavity, allowing for nasal polyps to return. Avoid nasal irritants or wear filtration face masks to protect yourself against such irritants.
Simple hand hygiene
Just washing your hands often can help you avoid transferring virus and bacteria into your sinus cavities. This will of course help you in the current pandemic situation as well, protecting you against Covid-19 and its many variants.
Maintain optimal humidity levels
Very humid air, cold air or harsh indoor heating is bad for your sinuses. Ideally, air you breathe should have 40% to 50% humidity levels. Depending on how dry or moist your air is, you can use a humidifier or dehumidifier to make it helpful for your sinuses. Remember to regularly clean your humidifier and dehumidifier and use only sterile water when using a humidifier.
Home remedies for sinus health
Here’s an excellent article about home remedies for good sinus health. If we had to recommend one remedy out of the 12 remedies they suggest, we recommend the Neti Pot saline rinse. Just be sure to use sterile water. And, clean your Neti Pot after using it, every single time.
