On September 21, 2001, the sound of the AZF factory explosion traumatized the ears of local residents, many of whom still suffer from tinnitus today.
- 20 years after the tragedy, Toulouse commemorates the deadly explosion of the AZF factory, which left 31 dead and thousands injured.
- This is the biggest industrial accident since World War II.
Twenty years after the deadly explosion at the AZF factory that injured thousands and claimed the lives of 31 people, some of those who experienced the disaster up close still suffer from tinnitus. Why Doctor takes stock of this pathology, and explains how to take care of it.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is an auditory sensation that is not caused by outside noise. The sound perceived is different depending on the person and can resemble a buzzing, hissing, grinding, ringing, hissing, roaring, chirping, clicking…
The noise heard occurs either suddenly during an event (violent explosion like that of AZF, noisy concert, episode of stress, etc.), or gradually. It is constant or intermittent, and varies in intensity. It is perceived in only one ear, or in both and even sometimes in the head, at the top of the skull.
What consequences?
The consequences of tinnitus vary greatly from one person to another. It is most often a simple temporary and occasional discomfort, but the noises perceived can also permanently inconvenience the patient. In the latter case, several effects are possible:
· problems falling asleep and insomnia;
· difficulty concentrating;
· anxiety, even depression.
What support ?
In 95% of cases, tinnitus is temporary and isolated, ie not associated with other signs of illness. Without gravity, they arise and then disappear without causing discomfort. If a cause of tinnitus is diagnosed, its treatment can eliminate or reduce tinnitus. And if the tinnitus is accompanied by a deafness that can be heard, fitting a hearing aid can make it disappear. In the other cases, no specific treatment exists, but measures can mitigate them.
Thus, if the tinnitus becomes lasting and annoying, you must stop smoking and limit your alcohol consumption (whose vasodilating effects increase the ringing). Similarly, you should try not to drink tea, coffee or soda for a month. As stress often accentuates tinnitus by making it more noticeable, relaxation exercises are then likely to reduce the discomfort. The consultation with a specialist will also make it possible to try the different techniques available to arrive more quickly at “putting noises at a distance (adaptation)”. Also to promote the process of habituation to noise in the ears, complete silence should be avoided by listening to low-intensity background noise, such as soft music or a radio.
The priority is also to protect your ears by avoiding exposure to loud sounds (chainsaw, drill, jackhammer, gunshot, motorcycle, concerts) which could aggravate tinnitus. If it is not possible to avoid them, you should wear earplugs or a helmet to protect them.
In addition, it is traditionally recommended to elevate your head to sleep, as this improves blood circulation and can reduce tinnitus. And hasAttention to finish: the vasodilators, often proposed, are useless, and we must be wary of medicinal plants, which have not demonstrated their effectiveness.
.
