What’s the best way to relieve the ringing in my ears? Despite the fact that we don’t yet know how to cure tinnitus, it’s symptoms can be reduced by learning what initiates it and worsens it.
A continuous whooshing, buzzing, or ringing in the ears is experienced by 32 percent of people according to experts. This disorder, which is known as tinnitus, can be a real problem. People who hear these sounds have problems sleeping and concentrating, and they could also have associated hearing loss.
There are steps you can take to decrease the symptoms, but because it’s normally linked to other health conditions, there is no immediate cure.
What Should I Avoid to Minimize The Ringing in My Ears?
The first step in managing that continuous ringing in your ears is to avoid the things that are known to cause it or make it worse. One of the most common factors that worsen tinnitus is loud sounds. Try to avoid using headphones, and if you are exposed to noise at work or at home, use some high-quality earplugs to decrease the damage.
You should also talk to your doctor about your medications, as some antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and high doses of aspirin can make the ringing in your ears worse. Never stop taking your medications without first speaking to your health care professional.
Other common causes of tinnitus include:
- other medical issues
- jaw issues
- stress
- allergies
- too much earwax
- high blood pressure
- infections
Tinnitus And Problems With The Jaw
Your ears and jaw are closely associated. This is the reason jaw problems can lead to tinnitus. The best example of this is an affliction called Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ for short), which involves a breakdown of the shock-absorbing cartilage around the joints in your jaw. The resulting stress created by basic activities like chewing or speaking can ultimately result in tinnitus symptoms.
Is there anything that can be done? If your tinnitus is triggered by TMJ symptoms, then the best way to achieve relief is to seek out dental or medical treatment for the root cause (no pun intended).
How is The Ringing in my Ears Linked to Stress?
The impacts of stress on the body are very real and very serious. Associated increases in heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure can all result in an increase of tinnitus symptoms. As a result, stress can cause, worsen, and extend tinnitus episodes.
What can be done? If stress is a major cause of the ringing or buzzing in your ears, you can try solutions such as meditation and yoga to try to de-stress. It might also help if you can lessen the general causes of your stress.
Excess Earwax
Earwax is absolutely normal and healthy. But excessive earwax can aggravate your eardrum, and start to cause ringing or buzzing in your ears. If you can’t wash out the earwax in a normal way because it has accumulated too much, the resulting tinnitus can worsen.
How can I deal with this? The easiest way to decrease the ringing in your ears caused by excessive earwax is to make sure your ears are clean! (Don’t use cotton swabs in your ears.) Some individuals generate more earwax than others; if this sounds like you, a professional cleaning might be in order.
High Blood Pressure Causes Tinnitus to Worsen
Various health issues, like 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. There isn’t a cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments for high blood pressure.
What can I do? High blood pressure is not something you want to dismiss. You’ll probably need to seek out medical treatment. But you can also change your lifestyle a bit: stay away from foods with high fat or salt content and exercise more. Hypertension and stress can elevate your blood pressure resulting in tinnitus, so try to find lifestyle changes and relaxation techniques to minimize stress (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).
Will Using a White Noise or Masking Device Help my Tinnitus?
If you distract your ears and brain, you can decrease 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 require any special equipment. If you prefer, there are hearing aids or specialized devices you can get to help.
If you experience a constant ringing, whooshing, or buzzing sound in your ears, take the problem seriously. If you’re experiencing hearing loss or have health problems that are acting up, it might be a warning sign. Take measures to safeguard your ears from loud noises, find ways to distract your ears, and see a professional before what started out as a nagging problem causes bigger issues.