Features -National Tinnitus Week 9-15 February 2009

With National Tinnitus Week approaching, I wanted to write to highlight the vital work of the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) – and shed a light on the unseen suffering that people with the condition experience.

As a supporter of the BTA, I’m often contacted by others with tinnitus. One of the common problems they mention is how much their condition affects them at night. This has now been confirmed in a new survey by the BTA. According to the results, almost 65% of sufferers surveyed found their tinnitus bothered them most at this time . While most people find quiet helps them sleep, tinnitus sufferers experience the opposite – that their ‘tinnitus noise’ becomes more noticeable. They then become more alert and agitated, which in turn stops them from sleeping.

You can easily imagine how this begins to take its toll. Serious sleep deprivation makes people miserable and, over time, more prone to illness.

You might be amazed to learn that there are literally millions of tinnitus sufferers in the UK. Needless to say, everyone of them needs help. The tragedy is that, all too often, they don’t know where to turn. That’s where National Tinnitus Week comes in. From 9 to 15 February, the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) will be highlighting their work so sufferers know there’s a charity dedicated to them – one that provides information, advice and support and promotes the crucial message that people can learn to live with tinnitus, as I have.

In the meantime, I urge all tinnitus sufferers in need of support to contact the BTA. You can call them free on 0800 018 0527 or visit their website www.tinnitus.org.uk. The message is clear – there’s help out there!

Yours sincerely
Peter Stringfellow

Health4Media press release

Tinnitus is a condition that can appear during the menopause. It is a symptom of underactive thyroid, and can be associated with heart disease, so it is a good idea to rule out these possibilities with your doctor. It can also be a side effect of prozac, and aspirin. Jo Pitcairn (website manager)

Page updated:21 February 2009