For people who don’t have tinnitus, there are few conditions more complex to comprehend. That’s because unless you actually have tinnitus, you won’t see, feel or hear the symptoms in the same way you would other ailments.
But for the almost 50 million Americans who suffer from some form of tinnitus, the problem is very real and is often very challenging to manage. Tinnitus is best characterized as ringing in the ears, but the American Tinnitus Association says, it can present sufferers with whistling, hissing, swooshing, clicking, and buzzing. These sounds aren’t perceptible by others and that could be the most discouraging part of tinnitus, which can lead to confusion, disorientation, depression and delayed diagnosis.
The number is really staggering when you take into consideration that 15 percent of the general public has tinnitus. A report put out by the U.S. Center for Disease Control reports that 2 million of those people experience symptoms that are debilitating and severe while another 20 million suffer from what’s considered burdensome and chronic tinnitus.
There’s a common connection between loss of hearing and tinnitus, which is why people frequently turn to hearing aids to enhance their hearing and to drown out the ringing. There are everyday things you can do to reduce the ringing along with using hearing aids.
If you have tinnitus here are 10 things to avoid:
- Smoking; Your blood pressure can definitely be harmed by smoking. Also, it can make the tinnitus worse by shrinking the blood vessels to the ears.
- Loud sounds; This one most likely seems obvious, but it’s worth repeating that loud noises can exacerbate the sounds you’re already hearing internally. Be careful of scenarios where you’ll be exposed to sounds at an increased level. This can include construction sites, concerts, and loud restaurants. Consider protecting your ears with earplugs if you can’t avoid the noise. People who work at loud jobs are especially benefited by ear plugs.
- Alcohol; Your cholesterol and heart health can be positively affected by drinking a small amount of wine daily, or so the old adage goes. But when it comes to alcohol and tinnitus, you can have too much of a good thing. For certain people drinking too much alcohol causes tinnitus symptoms to be more evident because it tends to raise your blood pressure.
- Particular medicines; Over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be really good at easing pain, but they could actually make your tinnitus symptoms worse. Tinnitus can also be impacted by other medication such as prescription antibiotics or cancer drugs. However, you should always consult with your physician about any issues you’re having before dropping a prescribed medication.
- Poor sleeping habits; Mom wasn’t kidding when she said you needed those eight hours each night. Getting an adequate amount of sleep can assist you to stay away from tinnitus triggers and also offers a wide variety of other health benefits.
- Infections; There’s a long-standing commentary about the need to find a cure for the common cold, specifically since a lingering cold can quickly morph into a sinus infection. Infections in both the ears and sinus have been known to worsen tinnitus, so be sure you’re doing everything you can to limit your exposure to infections.
- Jaw issues; If you’re having jaw pain, you should already be consulting a doctor, but particularly if you also suffer from tinnitus. Reducing jaw pain might have some impact on your tinnitus because the jaw and ears share nerves and ligaments.
- Caffeine; Here’s yet another influencer of blood pressure that can cause a rise in levels. You will probably notice a change in sleeping habits if you drink too much caffeine.
- Unsafe blood pressure levels; Keeping track of your blood pressure is an essential preventive strategy that will help keep you safe from many ailments, but it also just may keep your tinnitus symptoms under control. You should be careful about routinely checking your blood pressure because both high and low blood pressure can make tinnitus worse.
- Excess earwax; There’s no doubting that earwax is helpful in the in the overall health of your ears. But actually dirt is trapped and our ears are protected by this sludge that we hate. That said, too much buildup can cause tinnitus to get worse. To make sure it doesn’t accumulate to an unsafe amount, your doctor can clean some of it out and help with prevention.
You can take back your life and regulate your tinnitus symptoms even though there is no official cure. You may be surprised in the changes in your overall health and your tinnitus symptoms if you try these 10 recommendations. If these don’t help, make an appointment with a hearing specialist.