There are few conditions that are more difficult to comprehend for people who don’t suffer from tinnitus. The problem with tinnitus is that if you are not afflicted with it, you won’t see, feel, or hear the symptoms in the same way you would other conditions.
Tinnitus is a very real and extremely difficult experience for the nearly 50 million Americans who have it. Tinnitus is best classified as ringing in the ears, but the American Tinnitus Association says, it can present sufferers with buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing and clicking. These sounds aren’t detectable by others and that could be the most frustrating part of tinnitus, which can lead to confusion, disorientation, depression and delayed diagnosis.
The number is truly staggering when you consider that 15 percent of the overall public has tinnitus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that roughly 20 million of those people have what’s known as burdensome chronic tinnitus, while another two million suffer from symptoms that are severe and debilitating.
In order to enhance their hearing and drown out the ringing, people with tinnitus frequently try hearing aids. While a hearing aid has shown to be an effective method of minimizing the symptoms connected with tinnitus, there are personal actions you can take to minimize the ringing.
Here are 10 things to avoid if you suffer from tinnitus:
- Excess earwax; There’s no doubting that earwax is helpful in the in the overall health of your ears. Actually, the crud we all hate actually traps dirt and protects your ears. In spite of this, tinnitus can get worse if too much wax builds up. Your doctor may be able to help you reduce some of the buildup and supply prevention advice to ensure it doesn’t accumulate to an unsafe level again.
- Poor sleeping habits; Mom wasn’t kidding when she said you needed those eight hours every night. Getting plenty of sleep can assist you to stay away from tinnitus triggers and also offers a wide array of other health benefits.
- Harmful blood pressure levels; Monitoring your blood pressure is an essential preventive strategy that can help keep you safe from many conditions, but it also just might keep your tinnitus symptoms in check. You should be diligent about regularly checking your blood pressure because both high and low blood pressure can worsen tinnitus.
- Jaw issues; If you’re having pain in your jaw, you should already be consulting a doctor, but particularly if you also suffer from tinnitus. Minimizing jaw pain might have some effect on your tinnitus since the jaw and ears share nerves and ligaments.
- Caffeine; Here’s another influencer of blood pressure that can cause a surge in levels. You will probably notice a change in sleeping habits if you drink too much caffeine.
- Alcohol; There’s a well-known adage that states drinking a small glass of wine daily can have a positive impact on heart health and cholesterol levels, and that may be true; however, you absolutely can have too much of a good thing with regards to alcohol and tinnitus. For many people drinking too much alcohol causes tinnitus symptoms to be louder because it tends to increase your blood pressure.
- Loud noises; This one probably seems obvious, but it bears reiterating that loud noises can exacerbate the sounds you’re already hearing internally. If a situation appears where you will be exposed to loud noises, be mindful. This can include concerts, loud restaurants, and construction sites. If you can’t abstain from loud settings, consider wearing earplugs to shield you from some of the noise. Earplugs can be particularly helpful for individuals whose job involves using loud machinery.
- 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 sinus and ears have been known to intensify tinnitus, so be certain you’re doing everything you can to control your exposure to infections.
- Smoking; Smoking is another habit that can harm your blood pressure. Additionally, it can narrow the blood vessels to the ears, which can make tinnitus symptoms more severe.
- Particular medicines; Over-the-counter medications including aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be very effective at soothing pain, but they could actually increase your tinnitus symptoms. Tinnitus can also be impacted by other medication including prescription cancer drugs or antibiotics. But before you quit taking a medication that was prescribed by your doctor, you should get a consultation.
Although there’s no official cure for tinnitus, there are ways to regulate the symptoms and take back your life. 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, set up an appointment with a hearing specialist.