Understanding Tinnitus: Why That Ringing in Your Ears Shouldn’t Be Ignored
A brain AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels in the brain, while a brain aneurysm is a weak or bulging spot in an artery wall that can rupture and cause bleeding.
Understanding Tinnitus: Why That Ringing in Your Ears Shouldn’t Be Ignored
Tinnitus, often described as a ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in the ears, affects millions worldwide. While it may seem like a minor nuisance, persistent tinnitus can significantly impact your quality of life - and in some cases, it could signal an underlying neurointervention or vascular condition that requires specialist attention.
At the Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic in Singapore, we offer a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosing and managing tinnitus, especially when it may be connected to neurointervention causes.
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an external source. It can be:
- Subjective tinnitus: Heard only by the patient (the most common type)
- Objective tinnitus: Rare; can be heard by a clinician during examination, often linked to vascular or muscular conditions
Common Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying issue. Some of the most common causes include:
1. Age-related hearing loss
As we age, damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve may lead to high-pitched ringing.
2. Exposure to loud noise
Frequent exposure to loud environments (e.g., concerts, machinery) can damage hearing and trigger tinnitus.
3. Earwax blockage
A buildup of earwax can irritate the eardrum and cause tinnitus.
4. Neurological or vascular issues.
This is where neurointervention and vascular care become crucial. Conditions like pulsatile tinnitus - where the sound matches your heartbeat - may be caused by:
- Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
- Carotid artery disease
- Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs)
- Aneurysms near the auditory system
- Intracranial hypertension
When Should You See a Neurointervention and Vascular Specialist?
While occasional tinnitus is common, you should seek specialist evaluation if you experience:
- Pulsatile tinnitus (hearing your heartbeat in your ear)
- Tinnitus in only one ear
- Tinnitus with hearing loss or dizziness
- Sudden onset of tinnitus
- Tinnitus that worsens over time
These could be signs of a neurointervention / vascular disorder that may require advanced imaging such as MRI, CT angiography, or cerebral angiography, all of which are available at the Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic in Singapore
How We Help: A Neurointerventional Approach
At the Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic, our neurointervention specialist, Dr. Manish Taneja, combines in-depth expertise in brain and vascular imaging with minimally invasive treatment options.
If a vascular cause is identified, possible treatments may include:
- Endovascular embolization for arteriovenous fistulas
- Angioplasty or stenting for narrowed blood vessels
- Monitoring and management of aneurysms or vascular anomalies
Take Control of the Ringing with Our Neurointervention and Vascular Specialist in Singapore
Tinnitus may feel invisible to others, but it’s very real - and potentially treatable - for those experiencing it. If you suspect your tinnitus is linked to a neruointervention or vascular issue, early evaluation can make a significant difference.
At the Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic, we’re committed to identifying the root cause and guiding you toward relief with personalized care plans for neurointervention and vascular conditions. Contact us to schedule an appointment withDr. Manish Taneja help you silence the noise.
Treatment Options at Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic
AVM Risk Factors
According to the Mayo clinic, these factors may raise the risk:
- Being male. Brain AVMs are more common in males.
- Having a family history. In rare cases, brain AVMs have been reported to occur in families, but it’s unclear if there’s a certain genetic factor or if the cases are only coincidental. It’s also possible to inherit other medical conditions that increase the risk of brain AVMs, such as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).
AVM Treatment Options
Treatment of AVM in the brain is often complex and many times requires multi-disciplinary approach. The treatment options include surgery, radiosurgery and embolization. Depending on the type of AVM, some patients may be treatable using one of the techniques above while at other times, combined approach may be used. There are more several types of neurointerventional treatments we offer to treat different problems that occur in the brain.
What are the Risk Factors for Brain Aneurysm?
There are not fully understood yet. Some of the known risk factors of cerebral aneurysm include
- Family history
- Smoking
- High blood pressure, also known as hypertension
- Polycystic kidney disease
Brain aneurysm can also be dangerous when patients say they experience the worst headache of their lives.
Brain Aneurysm Treatment Options
Brain aneurysm is a weak or thin spot on an artery in the brain that balloons or bulges out and fills with blood. The bulging aneurysm can put increased pressure on the nerves or brain tissue. It may also burst or rupture, spilling blood into the surrounding tissue (called a hemorrhage). Brain aneurysm is a fully treatable and curable condition. The best time to treat is before it ruptures. Traditional treatment method of open surgery called clipping is largely replaced in majority of patients with minimally invasive endovascular technique called coiling. This technique involves a 5 mm incision in the groin or wrist to get into a blood vessel. Through this, multiple small tubes called catheters and wires are advanced into the brain and the aneurysm is completely blocked from inside. No open surgery to skull is required with quicker treatment and recovery.
Consult a Specialist for Your Brain Aneurysm or AVM
Aneurysms and AVMs are two different conditions that can form in the brain. Nevertheless, both are serious matters. Reach out to Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic if you or a loved one have any symptoms.
Dr. Manish Tanjea, a certified neurointervention specialist, has extensive experience treating brain arteriovenous malformation and brain aneurysms. Come in for a further evaluation. Aa a well-trained AVM and brain aneurysm specialist in Singapore, Dr. Manish Taneja tailors treatment plans for each patient. Contact us today to arrange your appointment.
Brain Aneurysm Resources
Explore our brain aneurysm resources. Understanding a brain aneurysm often involves learning across several areas.
Put Brain Aneurysm on Your Health Radar
Did you experience the worst headache of your life? Thoughts could be racing through your mind. A brain aneurysm is a weak spot in a blood vessel in the brain that can change over time. The key concern is when an aneurysm ruptures, which can disrupt blood flow, affect brain tissue, and lead to serious brain damage. Controllable conditions like high blood pressure can increase this risk and treatment options can depend on the condition. Surgical clipping is one option that prevents blood from entering the weakened area. In many cases, minimally invasive treatments can also be used to restore normal blood flow and reduce risk. We have created structured guides to help you explore each stage in more detail:
A simple (computed tomography) CT scan could be just what the doctor ordered and the first step in early detection and prevention of a brain aneurysm. Come in for an easy consultation with our brain aneurysm specialist in Singapore to be on your health radar.
Other Health Conditions
The Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic is your “go-to” facility for various conditions and treatments. To arrange an appointment with Dr. Manish Taneja, our vascular and neurointervention specialist, contact us. You can also call us at (+65) 6904 8084 for a consultation.