What’s the best way to stop the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but understanding what causes or aggravates your symptoms can help you minimize or eliminate episodes.
A consistent whooshing, buzzing, or ringing in the ears is experienced by 32 percent of people according to researchers. This condition is called tinnitus, and it can wreak havoc. People who hear these noises have trouble sleeping and concentrating, and they could also have associated hearing loss.
There are steps you can take to lessen the symptoms, but because it’s commonly linked to other health conditions, there is no immediate cure.
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. Loud noise is one of the most common things that worsen tinnitus. If you’re exposed to a loud work environment, wear earplugs and also try to avoid using headphones or earpods.
You should also consult your doctor concerning your medications, as certain antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and high doses of aspirin can make the ear ringing worse. Never stop taking your medications without first speaking to your health care professional.
Other typical causes of tinnitus include:
- jaw problems
- stress
- excessive earwax
- other medical problems
- allergies
- infections
- high blood pressure
Tinnitus And Issues With The Jaw
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 problems can result in tinnitus. TMJ, which is a condition that causes the cartilage of the jaw to deteriorate, is a good example of this kind of jaw issue. Tinnitus can be the outcome of the stress of simple activities such as chewing.
Is there anything that can be done? If your tinnitus is triggered by TMJ symptoms, then the best way to achieve relief is to find dental or medical treatment for the underlying cause.
Stress And That Ringing in my Ears
Stress can affect your body in very real, very tangible ways. Intensification of tinnitus symptoms can be brought on by surges in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Stress, consequently, can activate, worsen, and lengthen bouts of tinnitus.
What can be done? If stress is a significant cause of the ringing or buzzing in your ears, you can try remedies like meditation and yoga to try to relieve stress. Taking some time to minimize the stress in your life (where and when you can) could also help.
Excess Earwax
It’s absolutely healthy and normal for you to have earwax. But ringing and buzzing can be the outcome of too much earwax pressing on your eardrum. The resulting tinnitus can worsen if the earwax continues to accumulate or becomes difficult to wash away normally.
What can be done? Keeping your ears clean without utilizing cotton swabs is the easiest way to reduce ringing in the ears triggered by earwax. In certain situations, you may need to get a professional cleaning so that you can get the ringing or buzzing to go away (some people just normally generate a lot more earwax than others).
High Blood Pressure Makes Tinnitus Worse
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can cause various health conditions, including tinnitus. It becomes difficult to ignore when high blood pressure escalates the ringing or buzzing you’re already experiencing. High blood pressure has treatment options which might lessen tinnitus symptoms in related situations.
What can I do? High blood pressure isn’t something you want to neglect. You’ll likely need to get medical treatment. But you could also change your lifestyle a bit: steer clear of foods with high salt or fat content and get more exercise. Hypertension and stress can increase your blood pressure resulting in tinnitus, so try to find lifestyle changes and ways of relaxing to minimize stress (and, thus, tinnitus triggered by hypertension).
Can I Relieve my Tinnitus by utilizing a White Noise Generator or Masking Device?
If you distract your ears and brain, you can reduce the effects of the constant noise in your ears. Your TV, radio, or computer can be used as a masking device so you won’t even need any special equipment. If you prefer, there are hearing aids or specialized devices you can purchase to help.
If you’re experiencing a continuous ringing, whooshing, or buzzing sound in your ears, be serious about the problem. It might be a warning sign that you also have hearing loss, or that you are experiencing a medical issue that needs to be dealt with before it worsens. Take measures to safeguard your ears from loud noises, find ways to distract your ears, and get in touch with a hearing specialist before what started as a nagging concern causes bigger problems.