What’s the best way to relieve the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but recognizing what causes or aggravates your symptoms can help you lessen or avoid episodes.
Scientists calculate that 32 percent of individuals have a continual buzzing, ringing, or whooshing sound in their ears. This disorder, which is known as tinnitus, can be a serious problem. People who hear these sounds have trouble sleeping and concentrating, and they could also have associated hearing loss.
Because it is normally connected to some other affliction, there is no real cure for the tinnitus itself, but there are strategies you can take to quiet the noise.
What Should I Avoid to Reduce The Ringing in My Ears?
There are some things that have been shown to cause or worsen tinnitus symptoms and these are the things you need to stay away from. Loud noise is one of the most common things that intensify tinnitus. If you deal with a loud work place, use earplugs and also try to avoid using headphones or earpods.
Certain medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and even high doses of aspirin can make the ringing worse so talk to your doctor. Make sure you consult your doctor before you stop taking your medication.
Other common causes of tinnitus include:
- infections
- too much earwax
- high blood pressure
- stress
- other medical problems
- jaw problems
- allergies
Jaw Issues And Tinnitus
Your jaw and ears are closely associated. That’s why issues with your jaw can result in tinnitus. TMJ, which is a condition that causes the cartilage of the jaw to deteriorate, is the best example of this type of jaw issue. Tinnitus can be the result of the stress of basic activities such as chewing.
Is there anything that can be done? The best thing you can do, if your tinnitus is caused by TMJ, is to find medical or dental assistance.
How is The Ringing in my Ears Linked to Stress?
The affects of stress on the body are very real and very significant. Increase of tinnitus symptoms can be brought on by spikes in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Stress, as a result, can activate, worsen, and extend bouts of tinnitus.
Can I do anything to help? If stress is a significant cause of the ringing or buzzing in your ears, you can try solutions like meditation and yoga to try to de-stress. It will also help if you can lessen the general causes of your stress.
Excess Earwax
Earwax is completely normal and healthy. But ringing and buzzing can be the outcome of excessive earwax pressing on your eardrum. If you can’t wash away the earwax in a normal way because it has accumulated too much, the ensuing tinnitus can become worse.
How can I deal with this? The easiest way to reduce the ringing in your ears caused by excessive earwax is to make sure your ears are clean! (Don’t use cotton swabs in your ears.) In some instances, you may need to get a professional cleaning so that you can get the buzzing and ringing to go away (some people just normally produce a lot more earwax than others).
High Blood Pressure Makes Tinnitus Worse
Many health issues, like tinnitus, can be caused by hypertension and high blood pressure. High blood pressure has a way of intensifying the buzzing or ringing you’re already hearing, making it difficult to dismiss. High blood pressure has treatment options which could reduce tinnitus symptoms in relevant situations.
What’s my solution? High blood pressure isn’t something you want to neglect. Medical treatment is recommended. But a lifestyle change, such as staying away from foods with high salt content and getting more exercise, can help a lot. Stress can also raise your blood pressure, so practicing relaxation techniques or making lifestyle changes can also help hypertension (and, thus, tinnitus triggered by hypertension).
Will Using a Masking Device or White Noise Device Help my Tinnitus?
If you distract your ears and brain, you can reduce the effects of the constant noise in your ears. You don’t even have to purchase special equipment, your radio, TV or computer can work as masking devices. You can, if you choose, get special masking devices or hearing aids to help.
If you’re experiencing a continuous ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in your ears, be serious about the problem. It could be a warning sign that you also have hearing loss, or that you are going through a medical problem that needs to be resolved before it gets worse. Before what began as an annoying problem becomes a more serious issue, take steps to safeguard your ears and if the ringing continues, get professional hearing help.