It can also be one of the many symptoms of a migraine.

There are around 200 distinct health conditions that can cause tinnitus, according to theAmerican Tinnitus Association.

Here’s what the research shows.

Illustration of the path of sound in the ear

JACOPIN / BSIP / Getty Images

The study participants with migraines were more likely to also have tinnitus than those without a history of headaches.

Interestingly, the link was stronger for those who experiencedmigraine with aurathan for those who hadmigraine without aura.

In addition, the severity of tinnitus and headache coincided in nearly half of the participants.

So when their head pain became more severe, their tinnitus did too, and vice versa.

Central sensitizationmay explain the tinnitus-migraine link.

These peptides could cause the throbbing pain associated with a migraine.

Research shows that headaches tend to precede tinnitus which supports this theory.

All in all, experts aren’t sure yet why there’s a connection between migraine and tinnitus.

Research suggests the combined occurrence of head pain and ear ringing likely has a biological basis.

In other words, it’s not just a coincidence.

Treatment Options

Tinnituscan affect people in different ways.

In some cases, an effective migraine treatment plan may help relieve tinnitus.

Someone with tinnitus may also benefit from behavioral therapy to manage the emotional toll that this condition sometimes inflicts.

There is medication to help treat some of the associated side effects as well.

About 15% of the American population experiences tinnitus.

It is estimated that about 12% of Americans have migraines.

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