The AudioNotch Tinnitus Treatment Blog

The relationship between stress and tinnitus is an interesting one. The association between tinnitus and anxiety has been well documented. Certainly, this association appears to be causative, given the anecdotal evidence that chronic tinnitus creates a subjective perception of anxiety. In one of several studies that more clearly investigates the link between tinnitus and stress, researchers found that individuals with chronic tinnitus were less reactive to stress than their healthy control group peers. This reactivity to stress was demonstrated by a blunted increase in cortisol (an acute stress hormone) that is released by the body’s Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis (the body’s stress response system) in response to a stressful situation.

Researchers speculated that this abnormality was the product of a prolonged period of stress, adding weight to the hypothesis that tinnitus can cause chronic stress.

“it is possible that the hyporeactive HPA axis might have developed after prolonged period of stress, together with a hyperactivity of the axis and excessive glucocorticoid release”

Cheers,
AudioNotch