Omicron has a whole range of symptoms that have been reported by sufferers of the coronavirus. One particularly maddening symptom has also been reported by those who have had Covid-19
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What is tinnitus?
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has seen a lot of strange symptoms being reported.
Covid-19 affects people in different ways and it means that symptoms are very often different between the people who get it.
There are more common symptoms, but the strange way our body reacts to the virus means that rare ailments can appear as well.
One symptom is being described as a ‘hidden’ symptom, as it can only be described by the person suffering from it.
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The same symptom can be made worse even if a person does not come down with Covid. If they already have this condition, pandemic stress can make it worse.
So what is the hidden Omicron symptom and how does it affect people?
What is the hidden Omicron symptom?
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The hidden Omicron symptoms has been described as tinnitus. The British Tinnitus Association explains a ‘possible link’ between the virus and the symptom.
They said: “A study by audiologists at the University of Manchester found that 6.6.% of patients reported developing tinnitus after hospitalisation for Covid-19.
“However, it’s important to remember that tinnitus can be heightened during stressful periods.”
Tinnitus can be a particularly annoying condition as it causes a person to hear sounds that are not generated by the outside world, so the noises cannot be just turned off.
The NHS said: “Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises that are not caused by sounds coming from the outside world. It’s common and not usually a sign of anything serious.
“It might get better by itself and there are treatments that can help.”
It’s believed that the coronavirus can cause the inner ear to become inflamed, causing tinnitus.
It’s also a possible side effect in the hours and days after receiving the Covid vaccine.
Healthline reported: “The British Tinnitus Association reported that tinnitus made up about 1.5 percent of the 317,043 reports of side effects after vaccination in the United Kingdom.”
The association also pointed out that tinnitus is a rare side effect and only impact around one in 7,640 people who have been vaccinated.
What should I do to get rid of tinnitus?
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There are a number of things a person can try if they find themselves experiencing symptoms of tinnitus, as it cannot always be cured.
It is not a condition to worry about affecting your physical health. It can just cause pangs of annoyance and it can sometimes be hard to ignore, impacting things like mental health and stress.
With Covid, it should go away within a few days, but can be caused by other things and last a long time. Should the noises continue, you should see your doctor.
The British Tinnitus Association have an in-depth look at techniques a person can employ if they are suffering from tinnitus.
They include the following:
- Meditation
- Diet
- Exercise
- Playing sounds or music
- Visualisation exercises
They also run a Tinnitus Support Team Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, on web chat, phone, email or by text.
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