What’s the best way to stop the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but recognizing what causes or exacerbates your symptoms can help you minimize or avoid flare-ups.
A continuous whooshing, buzzing, or ringing in the ears is experienced by 32 percent of people according to researchers. This condition is known as tinnitus, and it can lead to real problems. People who hear these noises have trouble sleeping and concentrating, and they might also have associated hearing loss.
Because it is normally connected to some other ailment, there is no real cure for the tinnitus itself, but there are strategies you can take to quiet the noise.
Avoid These Things to Reduce The Ringing
The first step in managing that persistent 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 worsen tinnitus. Avoid using headphones, and if you are subjected to noise at work or at home, use some high-quality earplugs to reduce the damage.
Certain medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and even high doses of aspirin can make the ringing worse so check with your doctor. Never stop taking your medications without first talking with your health care professional.
Other common causes of tinnitus include:
- other medical problems
- jaw problems
- too much earwax
- high blood pressure
- stress
- allergies
- infections
Jaw Problems And Tinnitus
Your jaw and ears are closely related. That’s why issues with your jaw can result in tinnitus. The best example of this is a condition called Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ for short), which entails a breakdown of the shock-absorbing cartilage around the joints in your jaw. The resulting stress created by basic activities such as chewing or speaking can ultimately lead to tinnitus symptoms.
What can I do? If your tinnitus is triggered by TMJ symptoms, then the best way to get relief is to find medical or dental treatment for the underlying cause.
How is The Ringing in my Ears Related to Stress?
Stress can affect your body in very real, very tangible ways. Intensification of tinnitus symptoms can be caused by spikes in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Consequently, stress can cause, worsen, and extend tinnitus episodes.
Can I do anything to help? If stress is a major cause of the buzzing or ringing in your ears, you can try remedies such as meditation and yoga to try to de-stress. Taking some time to minimize the stress in your life (whenever you can) will 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 normally because it has accumulated too much, the ensuing tinnitus can worsen.
What can be done? The simplest way to reduce the ringing in your ears caused by too much earwax is to keep your ears clean! (Do not use cotton swabs in your ears.) In some situations, you might need to get a professional cleaning so that you can get the ringing or buzzing to go away (some people just normally generate a lot more earwax than others).
High Blood Pressure Causes Tinnitus to Worsen
Various health conditions, including tinnitus, can be caused by high blood pressure and hypertension. It becomes difficult to dismiss when high blood pressure intensifies the ringing or buzzing you’re already hearing. There isn’t a cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments for high blood pressure.
What’s my solution? Disregarding high blood pressure is not something you want to do. You’ll likely need to seek out medical treatment. But a lifestyle change, such as staying away from foods with high salt content and getting more exercise, can really help. Hypertension and stress can elevate your blood pressure resulting in tinnitus, so try to find lifestyle changes and ways of relaxing to minimize stress (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).
Can I Decrease my Tinnitus by Using a Masking Device or White Noise Generator?
If you distract your brain and ears, you can reduce the impact 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 continuous ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in your ears, be serious about the problem. If you’re experiencing hearing loss or have health problems that are acting up, it might be a warning sign. Take steps to protect your ears from loud noises, find ways to distract your ears, and get in touch with a hearing specialist before what began as a nagging concern causes bigger problems.