What’s the best way to relieve the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but recognizing what causes or exacerbates your symptoms can help you reduce or avoid episodes.
Experts estimate that 32 percent of people have a constant ringing, buzzing, or whooshing noise in their ears. This condition is known as tinnitus, and it can lead to real problems. People who hear these sounds have difficulty sleeping and concentrating, and they may also have associated hearing loss.
Because it is normally 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.
What Should I Avoid to Minimize The Ringing in My Ears?
The first step in addressing that constant ringing in your ears is to avoid the things that are known to cause it or make it worse. Loud noise is one of the most common things that aggravate tinnitus. If you deal with a noisy work environment, use earplugs and also try to avoid using headphones or earpods.
You should also talk to your doctor about your medications, as some antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and high doses of aspirin can make the ear ringing worse. Never stop taking your medications without first consulting your health care professional.
Here are some other common causes:
- stress
- too much earwax
- allergies
- other medical issues
- high blood pressure
- issues with the jaw
- infections
Tinnitus And Issues With The Jaw
If for no other reason than their how close they are, your ears and jaw have a certain amount of interplay between them (they’re excellent neighbors, normally). This is why jaw issues can result in tinnitus. TMJ, which is a condition that causes the cartilage of the jaw to deteriorate, is the best example of this type of jaw issue. Tinnitus can be the outcome of the stress of simple activities like chewing.
Is there anything that can be done? If your tinnitus is the result of TMJ symptoms, then the best way to achieve relief is to find medical or dental treatment for the underlying cause.
How is The Ringing in my Ears Linked to Stress?
The affects of stress on the body are very real and very significant. Associated increases in heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure can all result in an intensification of tinnitus symptoms. Stress, consequently, can activate, worsen, and extend bouts of tinnitus.
What can I do? If your tinnitus is brought on by stress, you should determine ways of de-stressing. It may also help if you can decrease the overall causes of your stress.
Excess Earwax
Earwax is totally healthy and normal. But ringing and buzzing can be the result of too much earwax pressing on your eardrum. If you can’t wash away the earwax in a normal way because it has built up too much, the resulting tinnitus can become worse.
How can I deal with this? Keeping your ears clean without utilizing cotton swabs is the simplest way to minimize ringing in the ears caused by earwax. Some people produce more earwax than others; if this applies to you, a professional cleaning may be in order.
Tinnitus is Worsened by High Blood Pressure
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can cause various health issues, including tinnitus. It becomes difficult to ignore when high blood pressure escalates the buzzing or ringing you’re already experiencing. There’s no cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments for high blood pressure.
What’s my solution? High blood pressure is not something you want to dismiss. Medical treatment is recommended. But a lifestyle change, such as avoiding foods with high salt content and getting more exercise, can go a long way. Stress can also increase your blood pressure, so practicing relaxation techniques or changing your lifestyle can also help hypertension (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).
Can I Alleviate my Tinnitus by utilizing a White Noise Generator or Masking Device?
You can reduce the impact of the nonstop noise in your head by distracting your ears and your brain. You don’t even need to get special equipment, your radio, TV or computer can act as masking devices. You can, if you prefer, get special masking devices or hearing aids to help.
You need to take it seriously if you have continuous ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in your ears. It might be a warning sign that you also have hearing loss, or that you are going through a medical issue that should be addressed before it worsens. Before what began as an aggravating problem becomes a more serious concern, take measures to protect your ears and if the ringing persists, seek professional hearing help.