What’s the best way to stop the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but knowing what causes or aggravates your symptoms can help you minimize or prevent episodes.
Researchers estimate that 32 percent of people suffer from a constant buzzing, ringing, or whooshing noise in their ears. This condition is known as tinnitus, and it can lead to real problems. Individuals who suffer from this condition could have associative hearing loss and commonly have problems sleeping and concentrating.
There are measures you can take to minimize the symptoms, but because it’s usually linked to other health problems, there is no immediate cure.
Steer Clear of These Things to Reduce The Ringing
The first step in dealing with that persistent ringing in your ears is to stay away from the things that are known to cause it or make it worse. One of the most common things that intensify tinnitus is loud sounds. If you deal with a loud work place, wear earplugs and also try to avoid using headphones or earpods.
Some medications like anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and even high doses of aspirin can worsen the ringing so check with your doctor. Be sure you talk to your doctor before you discontinue your medication.
Here are some other typical causes:
- allergies
- excessive earwax
- stress
- high blood pressure
- other medical issues
- infections
- jaw problems
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 excellent neighbors, usually). This is why jaw problems can result in tinnitus. The best example of this is a condition called Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ for short), which involves a breakdown of the shock-absorbing cartilage in the joints in your jaw. The resulting stress produced by basic activities like chewing or speaking can ultimately result in tinnitus symptoms.
What can I do? If your tinnitus is the result of TMJ symptoms, then the best way to get relief is to seek out dental or medical treatment for the underlying cause.
How is The Ringing in my Ears Linked to Stress?
Stress can impact your body in very real, very tangible ways. Associated surges in heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure can all lead to an intensification of tinnitus symptoms. Stress, as a result, can trigger, worsen, and extend bouts of tinnitus.
What can I do? If your tinnitus is brought on by stress, you need to find ways of reducing stress. Taking some time to minimize the stress in your life (where and when you can) will also help.
Excess Earwax
It’s absolutely healthy and normal for you to have earwax. But ringing and buzzing can be the result of excessive earwax pressing on your eardrum. The resulting tinnitus can worsen if the earwax keeps accumulating or becomes difficult to wash away in a normal way.
What can I do? The easiest way to minimize the ringing in your ears caused by excessive earwax is to keep your ears clean! (Do not use cotton swabs to clean your ears.) Some people produce more earwax than others; if this sounds like you, a professional cleaning might be necessary.
High Blood Pressure Causes Tinnitus to Worsen
Various health issues, like tinnitus, can be caused by hypertension and high blood pressure. It becomes difficult to dismiss when high blood pressure escalates the ringing or buzzing you’re already experiencing. There isn’t a cure for tinnitus, but there are treatment options for high blood pressure.
What’s my solution? High blood pressure isn’t something you want to neglect. You’ll likely want to seek out medical treatment. But a lifestyle change, including staying away from foods with high salt content and getting more exercise, can go a long way. Stress can also raise your blood pressure, so practicing relaxation techniques or changing your lifestyle can also improve hypertension (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).
Will Using a Masking Device or White Noise Device Help my Tinnitus?
If you distract your ears and brain, you can decrease the impact of the continual noise in your ears. You don’t even have to purchase special equipment, your radio, TV or computer can act as masking devices. If you prefer, there are hearing aids or specialized devices you can purchase to help.
If you experience a continuous ringing, whooshing, or buzzing sound in your ears, take the problem seriously. It may 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 protect your ears from loud noises, look for ways to distract your ears, and get in touch with a hearing specialist before what started as a nagging problem causes bigger problems.