Bahiana launches innovative service serviced by SUS

Imagine living with the sound of a whistle, a cicada or a cricket all the time in your ear. As the saying goes: sleep with a noise like that! This is exactly how many people live. However, thanks to the efforts and intense study of some physicians from different areas, especially otolaryngologists, this suffering may end. The cure for the famous tinnitus has just gained a strong ally in Salvador. it is about the PEACE – Anti-Zoom Project which provides a multi-professional health service and whose care is provided exclusively by the Unified Health System (SUS). As the acronym itself says, the initiative aims to provide the long-awaited peace to patients who seek PAZ whose care is provided at the Teaching-Care Clinic of Bahiana (ADAB), in Brotas (Av. Dom João VI, n.275).

PEACE

PAZ is an initiative of Drª. Clarice Saba, otolaryngologist, professor at Bahiana and also project coordinator. According to her, the service is multidisciplinary (involves doctors from different specialties, physiotherapists, dentists and even nutritionists), "since tinnitus has several causes, such as partial hearing loss, anatomical issues related to the face, posture, changes in triglyceride levels, pre-diabetes, high consumption of caffeine, sugars, among other factors”, he explains.

According to data released by the Support Group for People with Tinnitus – GAPZ, more than 28 million Brazilians suffer from tinnitus, "however, tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom", explains Dr. Clarice, stating that, in large part, part of the cases, there is the cure. Another differential of the service is that it is exclusively aimed at patients with the problem. “We will not deal with any complaints other than tinnitus, so that we can provide a quality service, with a consultation of at least 30 minutes”, he points out.

As part of the activities of the service that began this July, Dr. Clarice Saba invites Dr Tanit Ganz Sanchez, a pioneer in a study on tinnitus in Brazil, to deliver the lectures "Deactivation of myofacial trigger points and control of somatosensory tinnitus" and "Tnitus , a multidisciplinary approach", on the 30th of this month, at 16 pm, at ADAB, with the intention of officializing the opening of PAZ. Tanit Sanchez, physician from São Paulo, associate professor of the discipline of otorhinolaryngology at FMUSP, author of the book “Who said that tinnitus has no cure?” she is also the founder of GAPZ.

Created more than ten years ago, the entity has the mission of providing support and updated information to tinnitus sufferers who have important repercussions on their quality of life. This is a multidisciplinary volunteer work that takes place in seven Brazilian cities (São Paulo, Campinas, Curitiba, Brasília, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and São José do Rio Preto). Tanit will chair the X International Tinnitus Seminar, which will take place in Brazil in 2011.

BUZZ

It is estimated that 17% of the world population have tinnitus. This symptom, now considered to be curable, brings disturbances to the population such as mood changes, worsening of pathologies such as hypertension and diabetes, irritability, depression, and can even lead to suicide.

Due to the strong association with several comorbidities (coexistence of disorders or diseases), tinnitus can serve as a warning sign in the decompensation of metabolic diseases with a great impact on the population, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypo or hyperthyroidism, etc.

Tinnitus also has great repercussions on human communication, especially in patients with presbycusis (hearing loss related to aging), hearing loss and/or people with occupational hearing diseases.

Tinnitus treatment is essential to improve the population's quality of life. Due to the multiplicity of causes, a multidisciplinary action is necessary, including evaluation and, when necessary, treatment in internal medicine, psychology, physiotherapy, radiology, occupational therapy, dentistry, etc.

Clarice Saba

Doctor graduated by Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública (1983), completed his last year of training (6th year) at the Otorhinolaryngology Service of PUC in Porto Alegre. He has a medical residency in otorhinolaryngology at the Clínica Professor José Kós, Rio de Janeiro. Fellow in two important services in otorhinolaryngology worldwide – Jackson Memorial Hospital - USA and Groninghen Ziekenhuis – Netherlands. She is currently Technical Director of the Bahia Otorhinolaryngology Center; Preceptor of Medical Residency in Otorhinolaryngology at Santa Casa de Misericórdia da Bahia - Hospital Santa Izabel; Vice-President of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of Bahia, Member of the Committee of the Department of Specialist Title of the Brazilian Association of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Coordinator and Creator of the Tinnitus Outpatient Clinic of Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública.