We're pretty bombarded with stories about the miraculous effects of drinking coffee, from promoting long-term memory to preventing certain cancers. But now a study says coffee may help cure a condition it was once thought to cause.
The study, published in TheAmerican Journal of Medicine found that regularly consuming caffeine gives you a lower risk of developing Tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a condition where a person perceives a high-pitched ringing or whining. We've all experienced ringing in our ears, but for some 50 million people in the U.S., the ringing almost never goes away. (Video Via The Tinnitus Clinic)
The American Tinnitus Association says there's been an ongoing debate among people with the condition over whether drinking coffee makes their tinnitus better or worse.
Some people with the condition say it improves when they cut back on their coffee consumption, others say it gets worse.
The new study looked at data from a decades-long health survey following some 65,000 women, and found those who reported a higher caffeine intake were at lower risk for developing the condition.
The effect was strongest in women who drank three or four cups of coffee a day, but keep in mind, that much caffeine really isn't recommended.
The Mayo Clinic says drinking 4 or more cups of coffee a day causes insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, upset stomach, fast heartbeat, and muscle tremors.
And a study earlier this year found drinking 4 or more cups is also linked to shorter life expectancy.
More studies are planned to help better understand the correlation between caffeine and tinnitus. Right now, researchers don't know why coffee seems to reduce the risk, or whether increasing coffee consumption could actually help treat the disorder.
