Strange buzzing sound could be symptom of ‘silent killer’ unnoticed for years

04 December 2023 , 09:53

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Tinnitus, a high-pitched whine or low-humming noise that someone can hear consistently, is known to affect a person’s mood. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Hundreds of millions of people around the world experience a strange buzzing in their ears - which could be the symptom of a 'silent killer'.

Tinnitus, a high-pitched whine or low-humming noise that someone can hear consistently, is known to affect a person’s mood and concentration. But doctors also now believe it could be one of the key symptoms of hypertension, or high blood pressure, a sometimes fatal condition which can go unnoticed for years.

According to the World Health Organization, people with hypertension have blood pressure which is 140/90 mmHg or higher – with the elderly most likely to be affected. And if untreated, it can cause heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, which can tragically lead to a person’s death.

READ MORE: Hypertension: Silent killer with no obvious symptoms affecting millions of Brits

Shockingly, it was one of the primary or contributory causes of death for around 650,000 people in the US in 2020. But the condition has attracted the grim nickname ‘the silent killer’ because it rarely causes any obvious symptoms to those that have it.

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Sufferers can spend years living a normal life before suddenly getting a potentially fatal illness related to it. So experts have suggested that those with certain key subtle symptoms, which may often go unnoticed, should consider seeing their doctor for a check-up.

One of these symptoms is a buzzing in the ears, known as tinnitus, which they now suggest could be an early warning sign of the disease. Others include getting nosebleeds, irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmias , and vision changes.

Symptoms that someone might have if they have a more advanced form of hypertension include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, anxiety, chest pain and muscle tremors. The simplest way to check if you have hypertension is to speak to your doctor about your concerns and get a blood pressure reading.

But there are also several ways to make sure that you’re not one of the people who gets this worrying condition in the first place. Hypertension is usually brought on by someone’s lifestyle choices, which they can change to decrease the likelihood of it developing into a problem.

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Doctors suggest that the issue can be mitigated if a person reduces their salt intake and eats plenty of fruit and vegetables. They also say regular exercise, reducing alcohol consumption and exercising regularly can help.

Furthermore, it’s important to limit your intake of saturated fats and trans fats as well to quit smoking tobacco if you have an addiction. Hypertension can also be linked to someone’s genetics.

So if you have family members who have the condition, you should ask your doctor about how to manage your stress levels and get regular blood pressure checks. And in some cases, sufferers can be prescribed medication to lower their blood pressure.

Douglas Whitbread