There are few conditions that are more complex to understand 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 nearly 50 million Americans who suffer from some form of tinnitus, the problem is very real and is often very difficult to deal with. Tinnitus is best characterized as ringing in the ears, but the American Tinnitus Association says, it can present sufferers with clicking, whistling, hissing, swooshing, and buzzing. These sounds aren’t detectable by others and that might be the most disheartening part of tinnitus, which can lead to disorientation, delayed diagnosis, confusion, and depression.
While that 50 million number is huge, it seems even more astounding when put in the context that it means about 15 percent of the overall public battles with tinnitus. A report released by the U.S. Center for Disease Control reports that 2 million of those individuals experience symptoms that are debilitating and extreme while another 20 million have what’s classified as burdensome and chronic tinnitus.
In order to augment their hearing and drown out the ringing, people with tinnitus many times try hearing aids. There are commonplace things you can do to reduce the ringing along with wearing hearing aids.
Here are 10 things to avoid if you have tinnitus:
- Caffeine; Here again, a rise in tinnitus levels comes along with this influence due to an increase in blood pressure. You will most likely notice a change in sleeping habits if you consume too much caffeine.
- Alcohol; Your cholesterol and heart health can be positively affected by drinking a small glass of wine every day, or so the old saying goes. But when it comes to alcohol and tinnitus, you can have too much of a good thing. For many people drinking too much alcohol makes tinnitus symptoms more evident because it tends to increase your blood pressure.
- Infections; There’s a long-standing commentary about the need to cure the common cold, specifically since a lingering cold can quickly change into a sinus infection. Infections in both the sinus and ears have been known to intensify tinnitus, so make sure you’re doing everything you can to limit your exposure to infections.
- Smoking; Your blood pressure can definitely be raised by smoking. In addition, it can narrow the blood vessels to the ears, which can make tinnitus symptoms more severe.
- Dangerous blood pressure levels; Keeping track of your blood pressure is an essential preventive strategy that can help keep you safe from many conditions, but it also just may keep your tinnitus symptoms in check. You should be persistent about routinely checking your blood pressure because both high and low blood pressure can worsen tinnitus.
- Excess earwax; There’s no doubt that earwax is helpful in the in the overall health of your ears. Actually, the sludge we all hate actually catches dirt and protects your ears. In spite of this, tinnitus can get worse if too much wax builds up. To make certain it doesn’t build up to a dangerous amount, your doctor can clear some of it out and help with prevention.
- Certain medicines; Certain medications such as aspirin, as an example, are good at reducing pain but they might also trigger tinnitus. Tinnitus can also be impacted by other medication such as prescription cancer drugs or antibiotics. However, you should always talk with your physician about any issues you’re having before dropping a prescribed medication.
- Loud noises; This one probably seems obvious, but it’s worth reiterating that loud noises can worsen the sounds you’re already hearing internally. Be cautious of circumstances where you’ll be exposed to sounds at an increased level. This can include concerts, loud restaurants, and construction sites. If you can’t abstain from loud settings, think about using earplugs to shield you from some of the noise. Earplugs can be very helpful for individuals whose job involves working around loud machinery.
- Jaw issues; If you’re having pain in your jaw, you should already be consulting a doctor, but especially if you also have tinnitus. Minimizing jaw pain may have some impact on your tinnitus because the jaw and ears share nerves and ligaments.
- Poor sleeping habits; When mom said you should get your eight hours of sleep each night, she wasn’t joking. Sleep is another crucial aspect of a healthy life that offers a wide range of benefits, including helping to avoid triggers of tinnitus.
You can take back your life and manage your tinnitus symptoms even though there is no known cure. Give these 10 recommendations a try, and you may be pleasantly surprised with the improvements in your symptoms and your overall health. If these don’t help, make an appointment with a hearing care professional.