Tips to Cope With Tinnitus

Tinnitus, more commonly known as “ringing in the ears,” is a condition in which the patient hears sounds like ringing, humming, buzzing and whistling inside their ears. According to a national health study performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 45 million individuals in the United States suffer from tinnitus to some degree. Clearly, it is a major problem facing numerous people around us. While there is no proven treatment for tinnitus, there are several ways you can cope with this condition.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

You are at the risk of this life altering condition even if you don’t realize it, and if tinnitus runs in your family, you have all the more reason to protect your ears. Avoid being in areas with loud noise exposure, such as busy marketplaces and crowded roads. Try to listen to music and TV on a low volume and make sure to wear proper protection if you have to work in noisy environments, such as factories, blast sites, or around heavy machinery. Apart from surrounding noise, dietary patterns also cause tinnitus. Keeping a tab on alcohol, cigarette and caffeine consumption will also prove to be beneficial.

Improve Overall Health

Many people find that taking care of their overall health actually helps treat tinnitus. This means controlling your blood pressure and reducing stress levels. This is because tinnitus is often caused as a result of health related problems, such as diseases of the heart and blood vessels, ear and sinus infections, and Meniere’s disease.

Go See Your Primary Care Doctor

Sometimes tinnitus is a result of some blockage in your ear canal. It often happens during ear wax impaction. In many cases, your primary care doctor will be able to examine and investigate the underlying reason for your tinnitus. If he fails to do that, he can always refer you to a good otolaryngologist, also known as an ENT specialist.

Discuss Prescription Drugs

Tinnitus is often heard the loudest in quiet surroundings, like in your bedroom when you’re trying to sleep. This is the reason that many people with tinnitus find it hard to fall asleep and end up not only sleep-deprived, but also frustrated, desperate and volatile during the day. If you are facing a similar issue, discussing the possibility of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs with your doctor may be a good idea. These drugs will improve your mood and help you sleep.

Try a Hearing Gadget

A handy way to cope with tinnitus is by using one of the amazing gadgets technology has to offer. Some experts believe that using a hearing aid helps tinnitus because it helps you hear sounds better, thus drowning away the ringing in the ear. There are also small electronic devices called wearable sound generators that fit in your ear and produce a pleasant sound that masks the tinnitus. In order to help with sleep, many people suffering from tinnitus opt for table-top sound generators. These aids can be kept near your bed and can be programmed to play sounds, such as waves, rain, or a waterfall. This helps people ignore the tinnitus and get a good night’s sleep.