Man with annoying ringing in the ears holds his ear.

How can I stop the ringing in my ears? Despite the fact that we don’t yet understand how to cure tinnitus, it’s symptoms can be minimized by learning what initiates it and makes it worse.

Researchers estimate that 32 percent of individuals have a continual ringing, buzzing, or whooshing noise in their ears. This condition is called tinnitus, and it can wreak havoc. People who suffer from this condition could have associative hearing loss and frequently have problems sleeping and concentrating.

There are steps you can take to lessen the symptoms, but because it’s usually linked to other health conditions, there is no direct cure.

What Should I Avoid to Reduce The Ringing in My Ears?

There are some things that are known to cause tinnitus symptoms or make them worse and these are the things you need to avoid. Loud noise is one of the most prevalent things that worsen tinnitus. Try to avoid using headphones, and if you are subjected to noise at work or at home, get some high-quality earplugs to minimize the damage.

Some medications like anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and even high doses of aspirin can worsen the ringing so check with your doctor. Never stop taking your medications without first talking with your health care professional.

Other common causes of tinnitus include:

  • stress
  • too much earwax
  • allergies
  • high blood pressure
  • other medical problems
  • infections
  • jaw issues

Jaw Problems And Tinnitus

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, usually). That’s why problems with your jaw can lead to tinnitus. The best example of this is an affliction called Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ for short), which comprises a breakdown of the shock-absorbing cartilage in the joints in your jaw. The ensuing stress created by basic activities including chewing or speaking 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 seek medical or dental assistance.

How is The Ringing in my Ears Related to Stress?

The impacts of stress on the body are very real and very serious. Associated spikes in heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure can all bring on an increase of tinnitus symptoms. Stress, consequently, can trigger, exacerbate, and lengthen bouts of tinnitus.

What can be done? If stress is a major cause of the buzzing or ringing in your ears, you can try remedies like meditation and yoga to try to unwind. 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 too much earwax can aggravate your eardrum, and begin to cause ringing or buzzing in your ears. If you can’t wash away the earwax normally because it has built up too much, the ensuing tinnitus can worsen.

How can I deal with this? Cleaning without utilizing cotton swabs is the easiest way to minimize ringing in the ears triggered by earwax. Some people produce more earwax than others; if this applies to you, a professional cleaning might be in order.

High Blood Pressure Makes Tinnitus Worse

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can create various health concerns, such as tinnitus. High blood pressure has a way of intensifying the buzzing or ringing you’re already hearing, making it hard to ignore. There isn’t a cure for tinnitus, but there are treatment options for high blood pressure.

What’s my solution? Ignoring high blood pressure isn’t something you should do. Medical treatment is recommended. But you could also change your lifestyle somewhat: stay away from foods that have high salt or fat content and get more exercise. Hypertension and stress can raise your blood pressure leading to tinnitus, so try to find lifestyle changes and relaxation techniques to reduce stress (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).

Will Using a White Noise or Masking Device Help my Tinnitus?

If you distract your brain and ears, you can reduce the effects of the continual noise in your ears. Your TV, radio, or computer can be used as a masking device so you don’t even require any special equipment. You can, if you choose, buy specialized masking devices or hearing aids to help.

If you’re experiencing 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 problem that needs to be dealt with before it worsens. Take measures to safeguard 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 problem leads to bigger issues.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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