How can I get rid of the ringing in my ears? Although we don’t yet know how to cure tinnitus, it’s symptoms can be minimized by learning what triggers it and worsens it.
Experts calculate that 32 percent of people have a constant ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in their ears. This condition is called tinnitus, and it can wreak havoc. People who have this condition could have associative hearing loss and often have difficulty sleeping and concentrating.
Because it is normally related to some other affliction, there is no real cure for the tinnitus itself, but there are steps you can take to quiet the noise.
Avoid These Things to Reduce The Ringing
The first step in managing that continuous ringing in your ears is to stay away from 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’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. Be sure you speak with your doctor before you discontinue your medication.
Here are some other common causes:
- other medical problems
- allergies
- jaw problems
- infections
- high blood pressure
- stress
- too much earwax
Tinnitus And Problems With The Jaw
If for no other reason than their physical proximity, your ears and jaw exhibit a certain amount of interplay between each other (they’re ideal neighbors, usually). This is why jaw problems can lead to tinnitus. TMJ, which is an affliction that causes the cartilage of the jaw to deteriorate, is a good example of this type of jaw problem. Tinnitus can be the outcome of the stress of basic activities like chewing.
What can I do? If your tinnitus is caused by TMJ symptoms, then the best way to achieve relief is to seek out medical or dental treatment for the root cause (no pun intended).
Stress And That Ringing in my Ears
The impacts of stress on the body are very real and very serious. Increase of tinnitus symptoms can be caused by surges in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Stress, as a result, can trigger, worsen, and extend bouts of tinnitus.
What can be done? If your tinnitus is triggered by stress, you should find ways of de-stressing. Taking some time to decrease the stress in your life (whenever you can) will also help.
Excess Earwax
It’s completely normal and healthy for you to have earwax. But excessive earwax can aggravate your eardrum, and begin to cause buzzing or ringing in your ears. The resulting tinnitus can worsen if the earwax continues to accumulate or becomes hard to wash away normally.
How can I deal with this? The easiest way to minimize 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.) In certain instances, you might need to get a professional cleaning so that you can 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
Various health issues, such as tinnitus, can be caused by hypertension and high blood pressure. High blood pressure can intensify the buzzing or ringing you’re already hearing, making it difficult to dismiss. High blood pressure has treatment which may reduce tinnitus symptoms in related situations.
What’s my solution? High blood pressure is not something you want to ignore. Medical treatment is recommended. But you could also change your lifestyle a little: stay away from foods that have high fat or salt content and exercise more. Hypertension and stress can increase your blood pressure triggering tinnitus, so try to find lifestyle changes and ways of relaxing to reduce stress (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).
Will Using a Masking Device or White Noise Device Help my Tinnitus?
If you distract your brain and ears, you can decrease the impact of the continual noise in your ears. You don’t even have to get special equipment, your radio, TV or laptop can act as masking devices. If you prefer, there are hearing aids or specialized devices you can purchase to help.
You need to take it seriously if you have continuous ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in your ears. If you’re suffering from hearing loss or have health problems that are acting up, it might be a warning sign. Before what began as an annoying problem becomes a more serious issue, take steps to safeguard your ears and if the ringing persists, find professional hearing help.