Man with annoying ringing in the ears holds his ear.

What’s the best way to stop the ringing in my ears? Even though we don’t yet know how to cure tinnitus, it’s effects can be lessened by recognizing what initiates it and worsens it.

A constant whooshing, buzzing, or ringing in the ears is experienced by 32 percent of people according to experts. This condition is called tinnitus, and it can wreak havoc. People who have this condition could have associative hearing loss and commonly have difficulty sleeping and concentrating.

There are steps you can take to lessen the symptoms, but because it’s commonly related to other health conditions, there is no direct cure.

What Should I Avoid to Minimize The Ringing in My Ears?

The first step in addressing that constant ringing in your ears is to avoid the things that have been shown to cause it or make it worse. Loud noise is one of the most common things that worsen tinnitus. If you’re exposed to a noisy work place, wear earplugs and also try to avoid using headphones or earpods.

Some medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and even high doses of aspirin can worsen the ringing so check with your doctor. Never stop taking your medications without first talking with your health care professional.

Here are some other common causes:

  • high blood pressure
  • issues with the jaw
  • stress
  • other medical problems
  • excessive earwax
  • allergies
  • infections

Jaw Problems And Tinnitus

Your jaw and ears are closely connected. This is why jaw issues can lead to tinnitus. The best example of this is a condition called Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ for short), which comprises a breakdown of the shock-absorbing cartilage around the joints in your jaw. The ensuing stress produced by basic activities including speaking or chewing can ultimately lead to tinnitus symptoms.

Is there anything that can be done? The best thing you can do, if your tinnitus is the result of TMJ, is to find medical or dental assistance.

Stress And That Ringing in my Ears

Stress can impact your body in very real, very physical ways. Associated spikes in blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing can all bring on an increase of tinnitus symptoms. As a result, stress can trigger, exacerbate, and extend tinnitus episodes.

Can I do anything to help? If your tinnitus is caused by stress, you need to determine ways of reducing stress. It may also help if you can reduce the general causes of your stress.

Excess Earwax

It’s completely healthy and normal for you to produce earwax. But too much earwax can aggravate your eardrum, and begin to cause ringing or buzzing in your ears. The ensuing tinnitus can intensify if the earwax keeps accumulating or becomes hard to wash away normally.

How can I deal with this? Keeping your ears clean without using cotton swabs is the easiest way to minimize ringing in the ears triggered by earwax. In certain situations, you might need to seek out a professional cleaning in order to get the buzzing and ringing to go away (some people just naturally produce a lot more earwax than others).

High Blood Pressure Causes Tinnitus to Worsen

Various health conditions, including tinnitus, can be caused by hypertension and high blood pressure. High blood pressure can intensify the ringing or buzzing you’re already hearing, making it hard to disregard. High blood pressure has treatment which might decrease tinnitus symptoms in related situations.

What’s my solution? Neglecting high blood pressure is not something you want to do. You’ll probably need to seek out medical treatment. But you can also change your lifestyle a bit: avoid foods with high fat or salt content and exercise more. Hypertension and stress can raise your blood pressure leading to tinnitus, so try to find lifestyle changes and relaxation techniques to reduce stress (and, thus, tinnitus triggered by hypertension).

Can I Decrease my Tinnitus by utilizing a Masking Device or White Noise Generator?

You can decrease the impact of the constant noise in your head by distracting your ears and your brain. You don’t even need to buy special equipment, your radio, TV or computer can work as masking devices. If you prefer, there are hearing aids or special devices you can get to help.

If you experience a continuous ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in your ears, be serious about the problem. It could be a warning sign that you also have hearing loss, or that you are experiencing a medical issue that should be resolved before it worsens. Take steps to safeguard your ears from loud noises, look for ways to distract your ears, and get in touch with a hearing specialist before what started out as a nagging problem leads to bigger problems.

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.