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Man with annoying ringing in the ears holds his ear.

What’s the best way to stop the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but learning about what causes or aggravates your symptoms can help you lessen or eliminate episodes.

A consistent whooshing, buzzing, or ringing in the ears is experienced by 32 percent of individuals according to experts. This condition is known as tinnitus, and it can wreak havoc. People who suffer from this condition could have associative hearing loss and frequently have problems sleeping and concentrating.

Because it is usually connected to some other ailment, there is no real cure for the tinnitus itself, but there are steps you can take to quiet the noise.

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

The first step in dealing with that persistent ringing in your ears is to steer clear of the things that have been shown to cause it or make it worse. Loud noise is one of the most common things that worsen tinnitus. If you deal with a loud work place, wear earplugs and also try to avoid using headphones or earpods.

Some medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and even high doses of aspirin can make the ringing worse so consult your doctor. Never stop taking your medications without first speaking to your health care professional.

Here are some other typical causes:

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

Jaw Problems And Tinnitus

Your ears and jaw are closely linked. That’s why issues with your jaw can lead to 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. Tinnitus can be the result of the stress of simple activities like chewing.

Is there anything that can be done? If your tinnitus is caused by 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. Increase of tinnitus symptoms can be brought on by spikes in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Consequently, stress can trigger, exacerbate, and extend tinnitus episodes.

What can be done? If stress is a substantial cause of the buzzing or ringing in your ears, you can try solutions such as meditation and yoga to try to de-stress. Taking some time to decrease the stress in your life (whenever you can) will also help.

Excessive Earwax

It’s absolutely healthy and normal for you to produce earwax. But excessive earwax can aggravate your eardrum, and begin to cause buzzing or ringing in your ears. If you can’t wash out the earwax normally because it has accumulated too much, the ensuing tinnitus can become worse.

What can be done? The simplest way to minimize the ringing in your ears caused by excessive earwax is to keep your ears clean! (Do not use cotton swabs in your ears.) Some individuals produce more earwax than others; if this sounds like you, a professional cleaning might be necessary.

Tinnitus is Worsened by High Blood Pressure

All sorts of health conditions, including tinnitus, can be caused by high blood pressure and hypertension. High blood pressure can intensify the buzzing or ringing you’re already hearing, making it difficult to dismiss. High blood pressure has treatment options which could reduce tinnitus symptoms in relevant situations.

What can I do? Neglecting high blood pressure is not something you want to do. Medical treatment is recommended. But you can also change your lifestyle a bit: steer clear of foods with high fat or salt content and exercise more. Hypertension and stress can elevate 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 decrease the impact of the continual noise in your ears. You don’t even need to purchase special equipment, your radio, TV or computer can work as masking devices. If you prefer, there are hearing aids or special devices you can purchase to help.

You need to take it seriously if you have continuous ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in your ears. It may be a warning sign that you also have hearing loss, or that you are going through a medical problem that should be dealt with before it gets worse. Take measures to safeguard your ears from loud noises, find ways to distract your ears, and see a professional before what started out as a nagging problem leads to bigger problems.

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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