Man with annoying ringing in the ears holds his ear.

How can I eliminate the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but learning about what causes or aggravates your symptoms can help you minimize or avoid flare-ups.

A constant whooshing, buzzing, or ringing in the ears is experienced by 32 percent of people according to experts. This affliction, which is known as tinnitus, can be a serious problem. People who hear these sounds have trouble sleeping and concentrating, and they might also have associated hearing loss.

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

Steer Clear of These Things to Reduce The Ringing

There are some things that have been shown to cause tinnitus symptoms or make them worse and these are the things you need to stay away from. Loud noise is one of the most prevalent things that aggravate tinnitus. Refrain from using headphones, and if you are subjected to noise at work or at home, use some high-quality earplugs to reduce the damage.

Some medications like anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and even high doses of aspirin can worsen the ringing so talk to your doctor. Be certain you consult your doctor before you stop taking your medication.

Here are some other typical causes:

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

Tinnitus And Issues With The Jaw

Your jaw and ears are closely associated. This is why jaw issues 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 in the joints in your jaw. Tinnitus can be the result of the stress of basic activities such as chewing.

What can I do? The best thing you can do, if your tinnitus is caused by TMJ, is to find medical or dental assistance.

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 breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Consequently, stress can cause, exacerbate, and lengthen tinnitus episodes.

Can I do anything to help? If stress is a major cause of the ringing or buzzing in your ears, you can try remedies like yoga and meditation to try to unwind. Taking some time to minimize the stress in your life (where and when you can) could also help.

Excessive Earwax

It’s completely healthy and normal for you to produce earwax. But ringing and buzzing can be the outcome 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 become worse.

How can I deal with this? The easiest way to minimize the ringing in your ears caused by excessive earwax is to keep your ears clean! (Don’t use cotton swabs to clean your ears.) Some people produce more earwax than others; if this applies to you, a professional cleaning may be necessary.

Tinnitus is Worsened by High Blood Pressure

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can cause a myriad of health conditions, such as tinnitus. It becomes difficult to ignore when high blood pressure escalates the ringing or buzzing you’re already experiencing. High blood pressure has treatment options which could reduce tinnitus symptoms in relevant situations.

What can I do? High blood pressure isn’t something you want to ignore. Medical treatment is suggested. But a lifestyle change, such as 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 making lifestyle changes can also help hypertension (and, thus, tinnitus caused by hypertension).

Can I Alleviate my Tinnitus by Using a White Noise Generator or Masking Device?

You can minimize the effects of the nonstop noise in your head by distracting your ears and your brain. You don’t even need to get special equipment, your radio, TV or laptop can work as masking devices. You can, if you choose, get special masking devices or hearing aids to help.

You need to take it seriously if you have continuous ringing, buzzing, or whooshing in your ears. It might be a warning sign that you also have hearing loss, or that you are experiencing a medical problem that needs to be addressed before it gets worse. Before what started as an aggravating problem becomes a more serious issue, take steps to protect your ears and if the ringing persists, find professional hearing help.

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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