What’s the best way to relieve the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but learning about what causes or aggravates your symptoms can help you reduce or prevent episodes.
A constant whooshing, buzzing, or ringing in the ears is experienced by 32 percent of individuals according to researchers. This condition is called tinnitus, and it can lead to real problems. People who hear these sounds have trouble sleeping and concentrating, and they may 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 steps you can take to quiet the noise.
Avoid These Things to Reduce The Ringing
There are some things that are known to cause tinnitus symptoms or make them worse and these are the things you should avoid. One of the most prevalent factors that aggravate tinnitus is loud noises. Try to avoid using headphones, and if you are subjected to noise at work or at home, get some high-quality earplugs to minimize the damage.
You should also consult your doctor about your medications, as some antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and high doses of aspirin can make the ringing in your ears worse. Make certain you talk to your doctor before you stop taking your medication.
Here are some other common causes:
- allergies
- other medical issues
- excessive earwax
- jaw problems
- stress
- infections
- high blood pressure
Tinnitus And Issues With The Jaw
Your jaw and ears are closely linked. That’s why problems with your jaw 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 in the joints in your jaw. Tinnitus can be the result of the stress of simple activities such as chewing.
Is there anything that can be done? The best thing you can do, if your tinnitus is the result of TMJ, is to seek medical or dental assistance.
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 heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. As a result, stress can trigger, worsen, and lengthen tinnitus episodes.
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 yoga and meditation to try to unwind. Taking some time to reduce the stress in your life (where and when you can) can also help.
Excess Earwax
It’s absolutely healthy and normal for you to produce earwax. But buzzing or ringing can be the outcome of too much earwax pressing on your eardrum. If you can’t wash out the earwax in a normal way because it has built up too much, the resulting tinnitus can worsen.
What can be done? The simplest way to minimize the ringing in your ears caused by too much earwax is to keep your ears clean! (Do not use cotton swabs to clean your ears.) In some situations, you might need to get a professional cleaning so that you can get the ringing or buzzing to go away (some people just naturally produce a lot more earwax than others).
High Blood Pressure Makes Tinnitus Worse
All kinds of health conditions, such as tinnitus, can be caused by hypertension and high blood pressure. High blood pressure has a way of intensifying the ringing or buzzing you’re already hearing, making it hard to disregard. High blood pressure has treatment options which may lessen tinnitus symptoms in relevant situations.
What’s my solution? Ignoring high blood pressure isn’t something you want to do. You’ll probably want to get medical treatment. But a lifestyle change, like staying clear of foods with high salt content and exercising more, can really help. Stress can also increase your blood pressure, so practicing relaxation techniques or making lifestyle changes can also improve hypertension (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).
Can I Decrease my Tinnitus by utilizing a White Noise Generator or Masking Device?
If you distract your brain and ears, you can reduce the effects of the continual noise in your ears. Your TV, radio, or computer can be used as a masking device so you won’t even require any special equipment. You can, if you prefer, get specialized masking devices or hearing aids to help.
You should take it seriously if you have constant ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in your ears. It may be a warning sign that you also have hearing loss, or that you are going through a medical issue that needs to be addressed before it worsens. Before what began as an irritating problem becomes a more severe issue, take measures to safeguard your ears and if the ringing persists, find professional hearing help.