What’s the best way to stop the ringing in my ears? Although we don’t yet know how to cure tinnitus, it’s symptoms can be reduced by understanding what initiates it and makes it worse.
Experts calculate that 32 percent of people have a continual buzzing, ringing, or whooshing noise in their ears. This condition, which is called tinnitus, can be a serious problem. People who suffer from this condition may have associative hearing loss and frequently have problems sleeping and concentrating.
Because it is normally 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.
What Should I Stay Away From to Reduce The Ringing in My Ears?
The first step in addressing that continuous ringing in your ears is to avoid the things that have been shown to cause it or make it worse. Loud noise is one of the most prevalent things that intensify tinnitus. If you deal with a noisy work place, use earplugs and also try to avoid using headphones or earpods.
Some medications like anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and even high doses of aspirin can make the ringing worse so talk to your doctor. Never stop taking your medications without first consulting your health care professional.
Other typical causes of tinnitus include:
- high blood pressure
- allergies
- infections
- other medical issues
- jaw issues
- excessive earwax
- stress
Jaw Issues And Tinnitus
If for no other reason than their how close they are, your ears and jaw exhibit a certain amount of interplay between each other (they’re excellent neighbors, normally). This is the reason jaw issues can result in tinnitus. TMJ, which is an affliction that causes the cartilage of the jaw to deteriorate, is a good example of this kind of jaw problem. Tinnitus can be the outcome of the stress of simple activities like chewing.
Is there anything that can be done? If your tinnitus is caused 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 Related to Stress?
The affects of stress on the body are very real and very significant. Associated spikes in blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing can all result in an increase of tinnitus symptoms. Stress, consequently, can activate, exacerbate, and lengthen bouts of tinnitus.
What can I do? If your tinnitus is brought about by stress, you need to find ways of reducing stress. Taking some time to reduce the stress in your life (whenever you can) could also help.
Excessive Earwax
Earwax is completely healthy and normal. But ringing and buzzing can be the result of excessive earwax pressing on your eardrum. If you can’t wash out the earwax in a normal way because it has accumulated too much, the ensuing tinnitus can worsen.
What can I do? The easiest way to minimize the ringing in your ears caused by too much earwax is to make sure your ears are clean! (Don’t use cotton swabs to clean your ears.) Some people generate more earwax than others; if this applies to you, a professional cleaning may be necessary.
Tinnitus is Worsened by High Blood Pressure
All sorts of health conditions, such as tinnitus, can be caused by hypertension and high blood pressure. High blood pressure has a way of intensifying the buzzing or ringing you’re already hearing, making it difficult to dismiss. There isn’t a cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments for high blood pressure.
What can be done? Ignoring high blood pressure isn’t something you want to do. Medical treatment is suggested. But a lifestyle change, including staying away from foods with high salt content and exercising more, can really help. Stress can also raise your blood pressure, so practicing relaxation techniques or changing your lifestyle can also improve hypertension (and, thus, tinnitus triggered by hypertension).
Will Using a Masking Device or White Noise Device Help my Tinnitus?
If you distract your brain and ears, you can minimize the impact of the constant noise in your ears. You don’t even have to buy special equipment, your radio, TV or computer can work as masking devices. You can, if you choose, buy special masking devices or hearing aids to help.
If you’re experiencing a continuous ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in your ears, take the problem seriously. It might be a warning sign that you also have hearing loss, or that you are experiencing a medical problem that needs to be dealt with before it gets worse. Take measures to protect your ears from loud noises, look for ways to distract your ears, and see a professional before what started out as a nagging problem leads to bigger problems.