What’s the best way to relieve the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but learning about what causes or exacerbates your symptoms can help you reduce or eliminate episodes.
Experts estimate that 32 percent of individuals experience a nonstop ringing, buzzing, or whooshing noise in their ears. This condition is called tinnitus, and it can lead to real problems. People who have this condition may have associative hearing loss and frequently have difficulty sleeping and concentrating.
There are steps you can take to lessen the symptoms, but because it’s normally related to other health problems, there is no direct cure.
What Should I Avoid to Decrease The Ringing in My Ears?
The first step in addressing that persistent ringing in your ears is to stay away from the things that have been shown to cause it or make it worse. One of the most common factors that intensify tinnitus is loud noises. Refrain from using headphones, and if you are exposed to noise at work or at home, use some high-quality earplugs to decrease the damage.
Some medications like anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and even high doses of aspirin can worsen the ringing so talk to your doctor. Be certain you speak with your doctor before you stop taking your medication.
Here are some other common causes:
- stress
- other medical issues
- problems with the jaw
- infections
- allergies
- high blood pressure
- excessive earwax
Jaw Problems And Tinnitus
If for no other reason than their physical proximity, your jaw and ears exhibit a certain amount of interplay between each other (they’re excellent neighbors, normally). This is why jaw issues can cause tinnitus. The best example of this is a condition called Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ for short), which entails a breakdown of the shock-absorbing cartilage in the joints in your jaw. Tinnitus can be the outcome of the stress of basic activities such as chewing.
Is there anything that can be done? If your tinnitus is caused by TMJ symptoms, then the best way to achieve relief is to find medical or dental treatment for the underlying cause.
Stress And That Ringing in my Ears
Stress can impact your body in very real, very tangible ways. Intensification of tinnitus symptoms can be brought on by spikes in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. As a result, stress can cause, exacerbate, and extend tinnitus episodes.
What can I do? If your tinnitus is brought on by stress, you should find ways of unwinding. Taking some time to decrease the stress in your life (where and when you can) can also help.
Excessive Earwax
It’s totally normal and healthy for you to have earwax. But ringing and buzzing can be the outcome of too much earwax pushing on your eardrum. If you can’t wash out the earwax in a normal way because it has built up too much, the ensuing tinnitus can become worse.
How can I deal with this? The easiest way to minimize the ringing in your ears caused by too much earwax is to make sure your ears are clean! (Do not use cotton swabs to clean your ears.) Some individuals produce more earwax than others; if this applies to you, a professional cleaning might be necessary.
High Blood Pressure Makes Tinnitus Worse
All sorts of health concerns, including tinnitus, can be caused by hypertension and high blood pressure. It becomes difficult to ignore when high blood pressure escalates the buzzing or ringing you’re already hearing. High blood pressure has treatment options which may reduce tinnitus symptoms in relevant situations.
What can I do? High blood pressure isn’t something you want to neglect. Medical treatment is suggested. But you could also change your lifestyle a bit: avoid foods with high fat or salt content and exercise more. Hypertension and stress can increase your blood pressure triggering tinnitus, so try to find lifestyle changes and relaxation techniques to minimize stress (and, thus, tinnitus brought about by hypertension).
Will Using a White Noise or Masking Device Help my Tinnitus?
If you distract your brain and ears, you can decrease the effects of the continual noise in your ears. Your TV, radio, or computer can be used as a masking device so you don’t even require any special equipment. If you prefer, there are hearing aids or specialized devices you can buy to help.
If you experience a constant ringing, whooshing, or buzzing sound in your ears, take the problem seriously. It might be a warning sign that you also have hearing loss, or that you are experiencing a medical issue that should be dealt with before it gets worse. Before what began as an irritating problem becomes a more serious concern, take measures to safeguard your ears and if the ringing continues, seek professional hearing help.