Comorbidity refers to the simultaneous occurrence of two or more diseases or conditions in one person. While two or more conditions may frequently present together, they are not always causes for each other.
The simultaneous presence of migraines and tinnitus is one example of a comorbidity. While migraines may not directly cause tinnitus, the two conditions often appear together and may affect one another.
One study analyzing datasets from 193 tinnitus patients found that 44.6% suffered from migraines. The study further suggested that the cooccurrence was more than just a coincidence. Let’s take a look at why migraines and tinnitus may present simultaneously and what you can do to manage your symptoms.
Why Do Migraines and Tinnitus Cooccur?
Multiple hypotheses for the cooccurrence of migraines and tinnitus exist, including but not limited to:
- Spontaneous abnormal neural activity during a migraine can trigger or aggravate tinnitus symptoms.
- Nerve pain during a migraine attack can aggravate or bring about tinnitus symptoms.
There are no known cures for migraines or tinnitus, but several ways exist to reduce or manage symptoms.
Managing Migraines
Migraine medication is centered around managing the pain and frequency of attacks.
Pain medication will help prevent migraines from becoming debilitating. If you prefer not to use pain medication, sitting in a dark room and drinking water or herbal tea from Thyme In The Ranch can help mitigate symptoms. Avoid caffeine, as it can aggravate tinnitus and migraine symptoms.
Prevention medication may not be able to stop migraines entirely, but it can effectively reduce their severity, frequency and length.
Managing Tinnitus
Tinnitus management is generally separated into either masking or therapy techniques.
Hearing aids or sound machines are effective tools for tinnitus masking. Hearing aids amplify external noise to drown out the internal sounds of tinnitus. Sound machines are often used at night to mask tinnitus while you sleep.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) reduces the stress, anxiety and other negative emotions associated with tinnitus. While CBT cannot stop tinnitus from occurring, it may minimize your adverse reaction to the ringing.
To learn more about managing your tinnitus symptoms, contact Rancho Santa Fe Audiology today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.
