What’s the best way to get rid of the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but learning about what causes or exacerbates your symptoms can help you minimize or prevent flare-ups.
A continuous whooshing, buzzing, or ringing in the ears is experienced by 32 percent of people according to researchers. This affliction, which is known as tinnitus, can be a serious problem. Individuals who suffer from this condition may have associative hearing loss and frequently have trouble sleeping and concentrating.
Because it is usually connected to some other affliction, there is no real cure for the tinnitus itself, but there are measures you can take to quiet the noise.
Steer Clear of These Things to Reduce The Ringing
The first step in dealing with that constant ringing in your ears is to avoid the things that are known to cause it or make it worse. One of the most common things that aggravate 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.
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. Be sure you consult your doctor before you stop taking your medication.
Other common causes of tinnitus include:
- infections
- other medical issues
- too much earwax
- allergies
- jaw problems
- stress
- high blood pressure
Jaw Problems And Tinnitus
If for no other reason than their physical proximity, your jaw and ears exhibit a certain amount of interplay between them (they’re good neighbors, usually). That’s why problems with your jaw can cause tinnitus. TMJ, which is a condition that causes the cartilage of the jaw to deteriorate, is the best example of this type of jaw problem. The resulting stress produced by simple activities including speaking or chewing can ultimately lead to tinnitus symptoms.
What can I do? The best thing you can do, if your tinnitus is brought on by TMJ, is to find medical or dental help.
Stress And That Ringing in my Ears
Stress can impact your body in very real, very tangible ways. Associated increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing can all result in an intensification of tinnitus symptoms. Stress, consequently, can trigger, exacerbate, and lengthen bouts of tinnitus.
What can be done? If stress is a substantial cause of the buzzing or ringing in your ears, you can try solutions such as yoga and meditation to try to relieve stress. It will also help if you can decrease the overall causes of your stress.
Excessive Earwax
Earwax is completely normal and healthy. But ringing and buzzing can be the outcome of excessive earwax pushing on your eardrum. If you can’t wash out the earwax normally because it has built up too much, the resulting tinnitus can become worse.
How can I deal with this? The easiest way to reduce the ringing in your ears caused by excessive earwax is to keep your ears clean! (Don’t use cotton swabs to clean your ears.) In some instances, you might need to get a professional cleaning in order to get the buzzing and ringing to go away (some people just normally make a lot more earwax than others).
High Blood Pressure Causes Tinnitus to Worsen
All kinds of health issues, like tinnitus, can be caused by high blood pressure and hypertension. High blood pressure has a way of intensifying the ringing or buzzing you’re already hearing, making it difficult to disregard. High blood pressure has treatment which could decrease tinnitus symptoms in related situations.
What can I do? Neglecting high blood pressure isn’t something you should do. You’ll likely need to get medical treatment. But a lifestyle change, like avoiding foods with high salt content and getting more exercise, can go a long way. Stress can also increase your blood pressure, so try doing relaxation techniques or changing your lifestyle can also help hypertension (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).
Can I Relieve my Tinnitus by utilizing a Masking Device or White Noise Generator?
If you distract your ears and brain, you can reduce the impact 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 could 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. Take measures to safeguard your ears from loud noises, find ways to distract your ears, and see a professional before what started as a nagging concern causes bigger problems.