For those who don’t have tinnitus, there aren’t many conditions more difficult to comprehend. 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 ailments.
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. Ringing in the ears is the best definition of tinnitus, but the American Tinnitus Association says, it can present sufferers with clicking, whistling, hissing, swooshing, and buzzing. Maybe the most frustrating part of tinnitus is that these noises aren’t perceptible by others, which can lead to disorientation, delayed diagnosis, confusion, and depression.
The number is really staggering when you take into consideration that 15 percent of the general public has tinnitus. A report released by the U.S. Center for Disease Control states that 2 million of those people experience symptoms that are debilitating and severe while another 20 million have what’s considered burdensome and chronic tinnitus.
In order to enhance their hearing and drown out the ringing, people with tinnitus often turn to hearing aids. There are commonplace things you can do to minimize the ringing along with wearing hearing aids.
Here are 10 things to steer clear of if you have tinnitus:
- Hazardous blood pressure levels; Keeping track of your blood pressure is an essential preventive tip that will help keep you safe from many illnesses, but it also just might keep your tinnitus symptoms at bay. You should be careful about regularly checking your blood pressure because both high and low blood pressure can make tinnitus worse.
- Caffeine; Here’s yet another influencer of blood pressure that can cause a spike in levels. You will most likely notice a change in sleeping habits if you consume too much caffeine.
- Particular medicines; Certain medications such as aspirin, for example, are good at decreasing pain but they may also trigger tinnitus. There are other prescription medications including cancer drugs and antibiotics that can also have an impact on tinnitus. But before you quit using a medication that was prescribed by your doctor, you should set up a consultation.
- Poor sleeping habits; Mom wasn’t joking when she said you needed those eight hours each night. Getting plenty of sleep can assist you to avoid tinnitus triggers and also offers a wide range of other health benefits.
- 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. Make certain you’re controlling your exposure to ear and sinus infections because they have can aggravate tinnitus.
- Loud noises; It might be obvious but the noises you’re hearing internally can be made worse by loud sounds. If a scenario appears where you will be exposed to loud noises, be careful. This includes concerts, loud restaurants, and construction sites. If you can’t stay away from loud settings, consider wearing earplugs to shield you from some of the noise. People who work at loud jobs are particularly benefited by ear plugs.
- Alcohol; Your cholesterol and heart health can be positively impacted by drinking a small amount of wine every day, or so the old adage goes. But when it comes to alcohol and tinnitus, you can have too much of a good thing. Drinking too much alcohol raises 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. Because the jaw and ears share components like nerves and ligaments, reducing jaw pain might have an effect on your tinnitus.
- Smoking; Smoking is another habit that can harm your blood pressure. Also, it can make the tinnitus worse by shrinking the blood vessels to the ears.
- Excess earwax; When it comes to how your ears work, it’s a known fact that earwax helpful. In fact, the gunk we all hate actually catches dirt and protects your ears. That said, too much accumulation can make tinnitus worse. To make sure it doesn’t accumulate to an unsafe amount, your doctor can clear some of it out and help with prevention.
Although there’s no official cure for tinnitus, there are ways to control 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, make an appointment with a hearing specialist.