Covid-19 making that Noise in your ears and head worse

Researchers have revealed that tinnitus, a common condition that causes the perception of noise in the ear and head, is being exacerbated by Covid-19 - as well as the measures taken to stop its spread. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, involved 3,103 participants from 48 countries, with the vast majority coming from the UK and the US.

"We found that 40 per cent of those displaying symptoms of Covid-19 simultaneously experience a worsening of their tinnitus," said study authors from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the UK. Although the study focused on people with pre-existing tinnitus, a small number of participants also reported that their condition was initially triggered by developing Covid-19 symptoms, suggesting that tinnitus could be a 'long Covid' symptom in some cases.

The study also found that a large proportion of people believe their tinnitus is being made worse by social distancing measures introduced to help control the spread of the virus. These measures have led to significant changes to work and lifestyle routines. UK respondents reported this to be a greater issue compared to people from other countries, with 46 per cent of UK respondents saying that lifestyle changes had negatively impacted their tinnitus compared to 29 per cent in North America.

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