‘Is Cortisol Now Our Enemy Number One’

Is Cortisol Now Our Enemy Number One?’
I have been reading and re-reading Laura Cole’s excellent informative book,
“Living With Tinnitus.”
(Incidentally, I would not be without this
‘Reluctant - Owner’s Manual.’)

Chapter 26 - ‘Brain Waves & Hearing Loss’ is particularly significant for us all.

Those living with extreme stress secrete higher levels of cortisol.
Raised levels of cortisol in the blood stream can have the effect of reducing grey-matter in the hippocampus, by reducing the activity of neurogenesis.
Without replenishment, the hippocampus loses volume.
Less volume means reduced function.
A shrinking hippocampus is a classic marker for Alzheimer’s.

Laura Cole’s book suggests that both regular meditation and regular exercise can help to restore grey-matter, soothe the entire nervous system, and even lessen the perception of tinnitus.

We have somehow to master our tendency to dwell in a state of permanent anxiety.
Accepting that our former way of life has gone for good, is a terribly difficult thing to do.
(I sometimes wonder if living with anxiety is a forlorn attempt to ‘cry out to our mama.’)
Don’t get me wrong folks - I do it plenty.
But I need to try to do better.

Perhaps acceptance is the only way forward.
It seems that unless and until we can approach this position, circumstances may have a tendency to deteriorate even further.

I would appreciate thoughts and ideas on this aspect folks.

Dave x
Jazzer

 

Both these videos explain the process well, Dave:

How stress affects your brain - Madhumita Murgia

How stress affects your body - Sharon Horesh...

 

My dear Ed - this is exactly the kind of focused input I was looking for.
I know I have lived with high stress levels, from a desperate childhood and its aftermath, and now severe tinnitus.
Success will depend on how well I cope, going forward.
My meditation and exercise are putting me on the right lines.
I am gradually learning how better to ‘chill out.’
Thank you again buddy,

Dave x
Jazzer

 

I totally agree, Dave. Stress affects our entire body, and if it’s chronic, many organs can be affected. I believe stress can be a precursor to many people’s tinnitus along with hearing loss and/or somatic issues. A combination of these is a recipe for the perfect storm. A common symptom of burnout syndrome is tinnitus. Why is this? You could find a relationship between excessive cortisol levels in the bloodstream - over an extended period of time - and problems with tinnitus arising or getting worse. There is certainly a lot of evidence to support this from the frequent reports of tinnitus arising after intense periods of emotional stress. Excessive cortisol is not good for us and can cause all kinds of problems if left unchecked. Another issue is that many people are simply unaware that their cortisol levels are high, as they adapt or get used to it. Stress in this instance is a hidden danger.

 

Did you feel any better whilst on your cruise, Dave?

 

its my understanding that a reduction in size of grey matter in the frontal lobe is a possible reason for those who get tinnitus when losing their hearing versus those who don't. Thats where the "brakes" are located and the reduction is size in that area causes the "brakes" (modulators) to not work. Often times, this area of the brain reduces in size due to depression. I posted a question a year ago wondering if we could reverse our tinnitus by doing things that would restore the size of gray matter in that area. I still think it's a possibility.

 

The other day, my healthiest sister, the most cheerful, active and sporting, went to a birthday with very strong music and returned with tinnitus. She had never experienced it until today and, luckily, it only lasted 1 day (or less). We can say that her ear recovered and the ringing disappeared. I do not think it's due to any other quality. If he had not recovered, the sound would have remained in her head. I thought that she was one of those people who would never develop tinnitus, that her brain had something different. I mean, all these studies are interesting, but the key is to keep our ears healthy. Just keep your ears safe and forget about cortisol.

 

I made a super big blood test since I wanted to know all values of amino acids, minerals, vitamins, cortisol, inflammation, liver values etc. etc.
My Cortisol value is 13.3. Recommendation is that it should be lower than 100.
Hence it looks like this value is perfectly fine.
Nevertheless, I have severe, loud, high-pitched T.

Besides that, all other values are top, even higher than recommended (for example vitamins). This is because I take supplements. For me, this confirms that no supplement can treat T.

 

Very informative. Thanks jazzer

 

When you have tinnitus, your ears are unhealthy, so remember to address issues of stress and subsequent cortisol.

 

Within this subject matter it's really needed to separate subjective tinnitus per development/onset from physical cause tinnitus. After tinnitus is received then stress and cortisol is fair ground talk with tinnitus.

I posted this before:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328238/

 

Well a cruise is no antidote - you still have to live with severe Tinnitus - however it was very nice - and courtesy of my lovely missus, now that I am no longer a bread-winner of course.
For me, and for many more, I know, “T” brings a fresh daily challenge.
However, I do believe I am making some progress Ed, thank you. x

 

@Jazzer

Cortisol is just another path to nowhere in the T puzzle. Stay meditating. Until medical science takes a huge leap, the only hope is to win the battle against ourselves.

 

This is just my opinion of course, but my take is her ears will never recover from that episode that caused her ringing. Yes, her ringing did stop after one day, but her ears are now weaker. If there's next time, maybe the ringing won't stop for 2 days, or 3 or 7 or 100 days or..... Truth is (as I see it), ears and hair cells are so fragile, that any insult will leave permanent effects. Please warn your sister that she needs to be very careful going forward. This experience could prove to be an extremely valuable "wake-up" call if she takes the right lessons from it. -- Best...
..............................
Regarding grey matter in the brain, I've read that chronic pain can reduce it by as much as 5-10% within a month. Also, some people who've been under undue stress for extended periods of time, can eventually end up with weakened adrenal glands and lower cortisol levels. If that happens, they may need to supplement with bio-identical cortisol to have even close to normal energy levels.

 

I tried to warn her. I asked her if she was still running with headphones on and she said "yes, always". I told her it was not convenient for her to do it and she looked at me like saying "I can not run in silence!" You already know that it is difficult to generate awareness about this condition.

 

How’s this for a mental conundrum IL?

I have severe tinnitus, and I don’t like it
- alright - I Hate It !!

When I wake, of course, I am immediately aware of it.

However - I tell myself
“I hear it - and I’m okay.”

Some days I actually believe myself,
and I have a better day!

Weird - or what ??

 

I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise @Jazzer I hope you'll tell us all about the different places you saw.

 

On this cruise we went to New York, then the Caribbean Islands of St Kitts, St Lucia, St Maarten, Barbados, then back to New York before crossing back across the Atlantic.
I would only recommend cruising to those who enjoy the sensation of sailing onboard a big ship.
The shore days are quite short - disembarking at about 9am, and back on board at 4pm, or they sail without you!
Also, the Caribbean Islands are very poor.
Not that much to see or do, unless you are a beach bum type of person.
Another cruise we did some years ago was the American Eastern seaboard - Boston, Charleston, Bar Harbour, St John’s, Halifax, New York and Quebec. Much more interesting.
In the past I was booked to play in the ship’s jazz band, but now those days have gone, and we have to pay I’m afraid.

 

There are many shows with loud music on cruises?

 

DT - I had ear plugs in for every one.
Up to 90 dbs on every show.
Consistent with much greater damage for those of us with “T.”
I complained to the entertainment hostess.
But ALL public entertainment venues are now far too loud.
The sound engineers have taken the ‘magic’ (tragic) figure of 90 dbs to be the benchmark or watershed figure, as a safety cutoff.
Totally disgusting, as it ignores the danger to all of those with impaired hearing.
I invariably left the theatre.

 

@Jazzer Was it loud overall been onboard the ship?? Did you had the earplugs on all the time?
You were supposed to come visit me in NY!

 

Any souvenir magnets for my collection?

 

“WOW”
- Valeri have you been to all of those places ??

 

Definitely not loud in general.
Cunard cruises are quite sedate.
Cabins, public lounges, restaurants all nice and quiet.
The only noisy areas are the theatre, where the volume is just plain crazy, 90 dbs, and sometimes the cafeteria with crockery noises.
I always have plugs ready but didn’t need to them in general.
But I would never go on the Celebrity “Party” boats.
Plus - I have never liked “Pop” culture.
Jazz and the classics for me.
I love great melodies - great poetic lyrics - I don’t want anybody to “ ‘it me with their rhythm stick!”
I am a musical snob, with a musician’s cultured sensitivities.
Famous jazz pianist Teddy Wilson (from Benny Goodman’s great quartet) whom I once played with at the Montreax festival in Switzerland, said, compared to “Pop” - jazz is PhD stuff.
The nearest I ever come to ‘pop’ music is the wonderful Ray Charles - which is really ‘Blues.’
Dave x

PS - by the way - I did knock - but you weren't home!

 

Oh Dave I wish!
Most of it it’s gifts from my friends and students while I worked.
We treveled a fair bit within Australia but usually up north to Queensland, our usual spots during summer.
We did two trips to Europe and the last one before this damn thing hit me was USA.
Haven’t been anywhere in the last 8 years, I miss traveling the most.

 

I can understand Valeri.
I would not fly now - noise and barometric pressure are too dangerous to risk.

What did you teach?

 

Dental radiography, loved my job, damn tinnitus ruined so many aspects of my life

 

Oh dear - I am so sorry Valeri.

How did your acoustic damage occur?

 

My dream is to be a beach bum on a Caribbean Island! Now I know that all I have to do is take a cruise and be late getting back to the ship so they sail away without me. I'm already poor, so I might as well be poor in paradise.

I'm packing my sarongs as I type.

 

.....er.....now I think sarongs are quite nice....
(well very nice....if I’m scrupulously honest...)