Identified non-obvious cause of tinnitus

Obesity may increase the risk of tinnitus due to high levels of inflammation in the body, found scientists from the General Hospital of Lahore in Pakistan.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to the journal Cureus, the study used data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2015-2016 and 2017-2018. The final analysis included information on 5,452 adult participants, 17.2% of whom were found to have tinnitus.

The results showed that this condition is more common in elderly people, men, as well as participants with depression and obesity. The most noticeable difference was observed between people with normal body weight and obesity: among obese individuals, tinnitus was noted in 20.3% of participants, while among people without obesity - in 15%.

The study authors explain the identified connection with a number of biological mechanisms. With obesity, chronic inflammation often develops and vascular function is impaired, which can worsen microcirculation in the inner ear and affect the function of the cochlea - the organ containing hair cells that convert sound waves into electrical signals for transmission to the brain.

According to scientists, abdominal obesity, associated with increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, as well as metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, which can disrupt the homeostasis of the inner ear, may play an additional role.

In addition, the study showed that people with obesity more often face sleep disorders. This factor can lead to an increase in stress hormones and enhance the subjective perception of tinnitus, negatively affecting overall well-being.