There aren’t many conditions that are more difficult to comprehend for those who don’t suffer from tinnitus. The problem with tinnitus is that if you are not afflicted with it, you won’t hear, see or feel the symptoms in the same way you would other conditions.
But for the almost 50 million Americans who experience some form of tinnitus, the problem is very real and can be very challenging to deal with. Tinnitus is best described as ringing in the ears, but the American Tinnitus Association says, it can present sufferers with whistling, hissing, swooshing, clicking, and buzzing. Maybe the most frustrating part of tinnitus is that these noises aren’t detectable by others, which can lead to disorientation, delayed diagnosis, confusion, and depression.
The number is truly staggering when you take into consideration that 15 percent of the overall public suffers from tinnitus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that roughly 20 million of those individuals have what’s known as burdensome chronic tinnitus, while another two million suffer from symptoms that are extreme and debilitating.
In order to enhance their hearing and drown out the ringing, people with tinnitus frequently turn to hearing aids. There are everyday things you can do to minimize the ringing along with using hearing aids.
Here are 10 things to steer clear of if you have tinnitus:
- Smoking; Smoking is another habit that can harm your blood pressure. What’s more, it can narrow the blood vessels to the ears, which can cause tinnitus symptoms to get worse.
- Caffeine; Here’s another influencer of blood pressure that can cause a surge in levels. You might also find that too much caffeine changes your sleeping habits.
- Infections; Since a lingering cold can quickly turn into a sinus infection there has always been commentary about the need to find a cure for it. Infections in both the ears and sinus have been known to intensify tinnitus, so be sure you’re doing everything you can to reduce your exposure to infections.
- Alcohol; There’s a well-known adage that says drinking a small amount of wine every day can have a positive effect on heart health and cholesterol levels, and that may be true; however, you absolutely can have too much of a good thing when it comes to alcohol and tinnitus. Drinking too much alcohol increases your blood pressure, which makes the ringing louder for many people.
- Jaw issues; You should consult a doctor if you have jaw pain and even more so if you have tinnitus. Since the jaw and ears share components such as nerves and ligaments, reducing jaw pain might have an effect on your tinnitus.
- Poor sleeping habits; When mom said you need to get your eight hours of sleep each night, she wasn’t joking. Sleep is another critical aspect of a healthy life that offers a wide range of benefits, including helping to avoid tinnitus triggers.
- Specific medicines; Certain medications like aspirin, as an example, are good at decreasing pain but they might also trigger tinnitus. Tinnitus can also be impacted by other medication like prescription cancer drugs or antibiotics. However, you should always consult with your physician about any problems you’re having before dropping a prescribed medication.
- Loud sounds; It might be obvious but the sounds you’re hearing internally can be made worse by loud noises. Be cautious of situations where you’ll be exposed to sounds at an increased level. This can include construction sites, concerts, and loud restaurants. If you can’t abstain from loud settings, consider using earplugs to shield you from some of the noise. Earplugs can be especially helpful for individuals whose job involves using loud machinery.
- Excess earwax; When it comes to how your ears work, it’s a known fact that earwax helpful. But actually dirt is trapped and our ears are protected by this gunk that we hate. That being said, too much buildup can make tinnitus worse. Your doctor may be able to help you relieve some of the accumulation and supply prevention tips to ensure it doesn’t accumulate to a dangerous level again.
- Dangerous blood pressure levels; Keeping track of your blood pressure is an essential preventive strategy that will help keep you safe from many conditions, but it also just may keep your tinnitus symptoms under control. You should be diligent about consistently checking your blood pressure because both high and low blood pressure can worsen tinnitus.
You can take back your life and manage your tinnitus symptoms even though there is no known cure. You might be surprised in the changes in your general health and your tinnitus symptoms if you try these 10 recommendations. If these don’t help, schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional.
