What’s the best way to relieve the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but knowing what causes or exacerbates your symptoms can help you lessen or prevent flare-ups.
Researchers calculate that 32 percent of people suffer from a constant ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in their ears. This condition is known as tinnitus, and it can wreak havoc. People who hear these sounds have problems sleeping and concentrating, and they might also have associated hearing loss.
Because it is usually connected to some other condition, there is no real cure for the tinnitus itself, but there are measures you can take to quiet the noise.
Avoid These Things to Reduce The Ringing
The first step in dealing with that constant ringing in your ears is to avoid the things that have been shown to cause it or make it worse. One of the most prevalent factors that worsen tinnitus is loud sounds. Refrain from using headphones, and if you are subjected to noise at work or at home, get some high-quality earplugs to minimize 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 discontinue your medication.
Here are some other typical causes:
- excessive earwax
- stress
- infections
- other medical issues
- allergies
- high blood pressure
- jaw problems
Tinnitus And Problems With The Jaw
Your jaw and ears are closely related. This is the reason jaw problems can result in 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 around the joints in your jaw. Tinnitus can be the result of the stress of simple activities such as chewing.
What can I do? The best thing you can do, if your tinnitus is brought on by TMJ, is to seek medical or dental assistance.
Stress And That Ringing in my Ears
The affects of stress on the body are very real and very serious. Intensification of tinnitus symptoms can be brought on by spikes in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Consequently, stress can trigger, exacerbate, and extend tinnitus episodes.
What can be done? If your tinnitus is brought about by stress, you need to determine ways of de-stressing. It might also help if you can decrease the general causes of your stress.
Excess Earwax
It’s totally normal and healthy for you to have earwax. But excessive earwax can irritate your eardrum, and start to cause buzzing or ringing in your ears. If you can’t wash out the earwax normally because it has built up too much, the ensuing tinnitus can worsen.
How can I deal with this? The simplest way to reduce the ringing in your ears caused by too much earwax is to make sure your ears are 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 ringing or buzzing to go away (some people just naturally make a lot more earwax than others).
High Blood Pressure Makes Tinnitus Worse
All kinds of health issues, including tinnitus, can be caused by high blood pressure and hypertension. It becomes hard to dismiss when high blood pressure intensifies the ringing or buzzing you’re already hearing. There isn’t a cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments for high blood pressure.
What’s my solution? Ignoring high blood pressure isn’t something you should do. You’ll probably want to get medical treatment. But you could also change your lifestyle somewhat: stay away from foods that have high salt or fat content and get more exercise. Stress can also increase your blood pressure, so practicing relaxation techniques or making lifestyle changes can also improve hypertension (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).
Will Using a White Noise or Masking Device Help my Tinnitus?
You can reduce the impact of the nonstop noise in your head by distracting your ears and your brain. You don’t even need to purchase special equipment, your radio, TV or computer can work as masking devices. If you prefer, there are hearing aids or specialized devices you can get to help.
If you experience a continuous ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in your ears, take the problem seriously. If you’re experiencing hearing loss or have health problems that are acting up, it could be a warning sign. Before what started as an irritating problem becomes a more serious concern, take steps to safeguard your ears and if the ringing persists, seek professional hearing help.
