What’s the best way to stop the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but recognizing what causes or aggravates your symptoms can help you minimize or avoid flare-ups.
Experts estimate that 32 percent of individuals experience a nonstop ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in their ears. This condition, which is called tinnitus, can be a serious problem. People who hear these noises have trouble sleeping and concentrating, and they may also have associated hearing loss.
Because it is usually related to some other affliction, there is no real cure for the tinnitus itself, but there are steps you can take to quiet the noise.
What Should I Avoid to Reduce The Ringing in My Ears?
There are some things that are known to cause tinnitus symptoms or make them worse and these are the things you need to avoid. One of the most prevalent factors that worsen tinnitus is loud sounds. If you deal with a loud work environment, use earplugs and also try to avoid using headphones or earpods.
Some medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and even high doses of aspirin can worsen the ringing so check with your doctor. Make certain you consult your doctor before you stop taking your medication.
Other common causes of tinnitus include:
- infections
- problems with the jaw
- stress
- allergies
- too much earwax
- high blood pressure
- other medical problems
Tinnitus And Problems With The Jaw
If for no other reason than their physical proximity, your ears and jaw have a certain amount of interplay between them (they’re good neighbors, usually). That’s why problems with your jaw can result in tinnitus. TMJ, which is an affliction that causes the cartilage of the jaw to deteriorate, is a good example of this type of jaw issue. Tinnitus can be the outcome of the stress of simple activities like chewing.
What can I do? The best thing you can do, if your tinnitus is caused by TMJ, is to find medical or dental help.
How is The Ringing in my Ears Linked to Stress?
The impacts of stress on the body are very real and very significant. Increase of tinnitus symptoms can be brought on by surges in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Consequently, stress can cause, exacerbate, and extend tinnitus episodes.
Can I do anything to help? If your tinnitus is brought on by stress, you need to determine ways of reducing stress. Taking some time to reduce the stress in your life (whenever you can) could also help.
Excess Earwax
Earwax is absolutely normal and healthy. But buzzing or ringing can be the outcome of too much earwax pressing on your eardrum. The ensuing tinnitus can worsen if the earwax continues to accumulate or becomes hard to wash away in a normal way.
How can I deal with this? The easiest way to reduce the ringing in your ears caused by excessive earwax is to keep your ears clean! (Don’t use cotton swabs in your ears.) In certain cases, you may need to seek out a professional cleaning so that you can get the buzzing and ringing to go away (some people just naturally generate a lot more earwax than others).
High Blood Pressure Makes Tinnitus Worse
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can create a myriad of health issues, like tinnitus. High blood pressure has a way of intensifying the buzzing or ringing you’re already hearing, making it hard to ignore. There’s no cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments for high blood pressure.
What can I do? Neglecting high blood pressure is not something you want to do. You’ll probably need to seek out medical treatment. But you can also change your lifestyle a little: stay away from foods with high salt or fat content and get more exercise. Stress can also increase your blood pressure, so try doing relaxation techniques or making lifestyle changes can also help hypertension (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).
Will Using a White Noise or Masking Device Help my Tinnitus?
You can reduce the effects of the continual noise in your head by distracting your ears and your brain. You don’t even have to purchase special equipment, your radio, TV or laptop can act as masking devices. If you prefer, there are hearing aids or specialized devices you can buy to help.
If you’re experiencing a continuous ringing, whooshing, or buzzing sound in your ears, be serious about the problem. If you’re suffering from hearing loss or have health concerns that are acting up, it might be a warning sign. Before what started as an annoying problem becomes a more serious issue, take measures to protect your ears and if the ringing persists, seek professional hearing help.
