Can The Ringing in My Ears Be Cured?

Man with annoying ringing in the ears holds his ear.

What’s the best way to stop the ringing in my ears? There’s no cure for tinnitus, but learning about what causes or aggravates your symptoms can help you minimize or prevent episodes.

A consistent whooshing, buzzing, or ringing in the ears is experienced by 32 percent of people according to researchers. This condition is known as tinnitus, and it can lead to real problems. People who hear these sounds have trouble sleeping and concentrating, and they could also have associated hearing loss.

Because it is usually related to some other condition, there is no real cure for the tinnitus itself, but there are strategies you can take to quiet the noise.

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

There are some things that are known to cause tinnitus symptoms or make them worse and these are the things you need to stay away from. One of the most common factors that worsen tinnitus is loud noises. Avoid using headphones, and if you are exposed to noise at work or at home, get some high-quality earplugs to minimize the damage.

You should also consult your doctor concerning your medications, as certain antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and high doses of aspirin can make the ear ringing worse. Be certain you speak with your doctor before you discontinue your medication.

Here are some other common causes:

  • stress
  • jaw issues
  • allergies
  • other medical issues
  • high blood pressure
  • too much earwax
  • infections

Tinnitus And Issues With The Jaw

Your ears and jaw are closely linked. This is why jaw issues can cause tinnitus. The best example of this is an affliction called Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ for short), which comprises a breakdown of the shock-absorbing cartilage around the joints in your jaw. Tinnitus can be the outcome of the stress of simple activities such as chewing.

What can I do? The best thing you can do, if your tinnitus is brought on by TMJ, is to find medical or dental assistance.

How is The Ringing in my Ears Related to Stress?

Stress can impact your body in very real, very tangible ways. Associated spikes in blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing can all lead to an increase of tinnitus symptoms. Consequently, stress can trigger, exacerbate, and extend tinnitus episodes.

Can I do anything to help? If stress is a substantial cause of the buzzing or ringing in your ears, you can try solutions like yoga and meditation to try to relieve stress. It will also help if you can decrease the general causes of your stress.

Excessive Earwax

It’s absolutely healthy and normal for you to have earwax. But excessive earwax can irritate your eardrum, and start to cause buzzing or ringing in your ears. If you can’t wash away the earwax in a normal way because it has accumulated too much, the resulting tinnitus can become worse.

How can I deal with this? Cleaning without utilizing cotton swabs is the easiest way to minimize ringing in the ears triggered by earwax. In some situations, you might need to get a professional cleaning in order to get the ringing or buzzing to go away (some people just normally make a lot more earwax than others).

High Blood Pressure Causes Tinnitus to Worsen

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can create a myriad of health concerns, like tinnitus. It becomes difficult to ignore when high blood pressure escalates the buzzing or ringing you’re already experiencing. High blood pressure has treatment which could reduce tinnitus symptoms in relevant situations.

What can be done? Disregarding high blood pressure is not something you want to do. Medical treatment is suggested. But a lifestyle change, including staying clear of foods with high salt content and exercising more, can help a lot. Stress can also raise your blood pressure, so practicing relaxation techniques or making lifestyle changes can also improve hypertension (and, thus, hypertension-related tinnitus).

Will Using a White Noise or Masking Device Help my Tinnitus?

You can minimize the impact of the nonstop noise in your head by distracting your ears and your brain. You don’t even have to get special equipment, your radio, TV or laptop can act as masking devices. You can, if you like, buy specialized masking devices or hearing aids to help.

If you’re experiencing a continuous ringing, whooshing, or buzzing 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 going through a medical problem that should be resolved before it worsens. Before what began as an annoying problem becomes a more severe concern, take measures to protect your ears and if the ringing continues, get professional hearing help.

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.