Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, hissing, clicking or roaring in the ears. Some causes include but are not limited to:
- Damage to the inner ear
- Exposure to loud noise
- Ear infection
- Medication
- Middle or inner ear conditions
- Chronic health conditions
- High or low blood pressure
While tinnitus has no known cure, there are several things you can do to try and manage the symptoms.
Stress Reduction
Not only has stress been shown to trigger tinnitus symptoms, but tinnitus itself can be stressful and emotionally exhausting. The cycle of stress and tinnitus may be making your symptoms worse. Learning to manage your stress can be a great way of controlling the effect tinnitus has on you. Some stress reduction techniques include:
- Journaling
- Meditation or yoga
- Healthy diet
- Exercise
Try your hand at journaling or book a yoga class at Pure Bliss Yoga to reduce your stress and, hopefully, improve your tinnitus symptoms.
Exercise
Not only can regular physical activity improve your mental and physical health, but it may help you manage tinnitus symptoms. A study on the association between physical activity and tinnitus symptoms found that elderly individuals who lack regular physical activity are more likely to experience tinnitus headaches.
Social Activity
Socializing may not be able to reduce your tinnitus symptoms directly, but it can reduce your stress and improve your general well-being. Isolation as a result of tinnitus and sound sensitivity can further entrench you in negative feelings and negatively impact the severity of your symptoms.
If you’re having trouble socializing, try discussing the issue with your loved ones and find ways to socialize that don’t exacerbate the symptoms, such as outdoor activities that promote exercise and well-being. You’ll feel better when you’re active and have the support of your loved ones.
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids can help relieve tinnitus symptoms by changing the volume of external noise to mask tinnitus sounds. Masking the sound even a little can help the brain focus on outside noises rather than inner-ear ringing. While this does not get rid of tinnitus, it can reduce the clarity of the ringing and allow you to live with it more easily. Make an appointment with an audiologist to discuss whether hearing aids might be the right treatment option.
Get Eight Hours of Sleep
Sleep deprivation can result in worsening tinnitus symptoms, leading to a lack of sleep. The cycle can be hard to break, but investing in a white noise machine can help mask the internal sounds of tinnitus so that you can get better sleep. If you find yourself unable to sleep, try yoga, meditation or a cup of herbal tea before bed to lower your stress.
To speak to one of our hearing specialists for tinnitus evaluation and treatment, contact Speech & Hearing Associates today.