Posted on 06/14/2013 10:28:24 AM PDT by Red Badger
Pennsylvania scientists have discovered the cause of the chronic disorder known as tinnitus, and have also found a way to treat it. Their goal is a preventive strategy for individuals whose work situations could cause them to be exposed to very loud noise.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers found that an epilepsy drug known as retigabine prevents tinnitus in animal models, according to ScienceDaily. They published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Strictly speaking, tinnitus isn't a condition, but a symptom of some type of disorder, like hearing loss related to age, a circulatory system ailment, or an injury to the ear, the Mayo Clinic reports. Tinnitus sufferers describe the buzzing, ringing, roaring, hissing, clicking, and other sounds it creates in their ears as annoying to varying degrees. For some, it's debilitating. Since there's no cure for tinnitus itself, doctors attempt to identify and treat the underlying cause.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders, about 25 million Americans have suffered from tinnitus. Among those who are at least 65, the disorder affects about 14 percent of women and more than 12 percent of men.
Knowing that tinnitus is incurable and that hearing aids don't help some patients, the Pittsburgh team sought to first find the underlying cause, then a way to treat it. They knew from prior work with mice that a connection exists between tinnitus and overactive dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) cells in the brain through which potassium ions travel. They found that hyperactivity of DCN cells is the result of a reduced level of activity in structures known as KCNQ channels.
The researchers conducted experiments that exposed mice to regulated amounts of noise, then identified those that had developed tinnitus.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Thank you, sweet man.
Done!.............
Please add me.
And ping to Post #49 for another new list member for you.
Done!....and Done!........
Add me to the buzz list please...
Done!............
“...researchers conducted experiments that exposed mice to regulated amounts of noise, then identified those that had developed tinnitus...”
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How did they know which ones of the mouses developed tinnitus?
Please add me also Red. Thanks!
Retigabine is real, my friend!
Thank you for the ping....
Thanks for the ping!
Right there with ya brotha! I feel like I am n the Swamplands of Louisiana most nights and AM’s!! Then again.. early AM’s there are Russian patriotic chants from the early 20’s! What a crazy condition!
I know what you mean about entertaining. For me it’s 10% entertaining 90% nuisance. Mine varies, too. At worst it’s dozen miniature stainless steel violins inside my ear. Like right now.
As I have aged, I do find (like you mentioned) it stops and I don't know why, its just "hey this silence is great" I have learned to live with it but silence is golden.....:O) I think that somehow the ear drum was damaged in the doctors office....
A few years back I went to a new doctor for ear cleaning. I told her of my experience and one ear was easily cleaned, but she also couldn't get the one ear cleaned...She took about 20 minutes to get the wax off, but said the ear drum was quite red when the wax came off....Now I'm in my 7th decade and my loss of hearing is catching with with my tinnitus of years ago. My hearing was perfect with it when I went to the specialist, kinda of losing hearing that is normal for my age......
LOL love that kitty....thanks for the ping
and after they answer that damn phone, see whos ringing the door bell damn it..
Thank you so much for the ping. Mine is really loud today and is making it hard to think. I need to check on this.
“nerves leaks out through the sheath”
wouldn’t this be also called ‘crosstalk’
What was that? I can't hear you over all the racket in my head.
5.56mm
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