Loud noise is the ear’s worst enemy. It harms the intricate structures of the ear, causing tinnitus. While tinnitus is rarely associated with serious medical conditions, it can interfere with our daily activities. That is why it’s very crucial to protect our hearing and prevent tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a condition where the sufferer hears ringing in the ears, buzzing, humming, or noises in the ears that are not actually there. The sounds can start mildly at first, but with time, they can become more noticeable and sometimes annoying.
Tinnitus is caused by problems with your brain or ears. The leading cause of tinnitus is damage caused to the inner ear because of loud noise exposure. It is very important to mention that tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom of another cause.
It might be temporary sometimes. Other times, it is chronic where it can happen 24/7, or comes and goes.
It is very common to experience a ringing in the ear after attending a loud concert. However, with repeated exposure, tinnitus can become a persistent condition. It can cause difficulty in focusing and hearing. It can also cause sleeping problems, fatigue, depression, and anxiety.
There are multiple causes of tinnitus and sometimes, its symptoms are unavoidable. How can you protect your hearing? There are some steps that you can take in order to prevent tinnitus. Read the following tips on how to lessen your chance of getting tinnitus.
Protection of the ear
1. Protect your ears.
Protecting your ears from constant and prolonged exposure to loud noise is the best solution to avoid tinnitus. If your work is in direct contact with industrial equipment or requires proximity to active machinery, engines, firearms, or shooting ranges, always remember to wear protection in the form of earmuffs and earplugs. Musicians and performers whose music is electrically amplified to very loud volumes should also wear hearing protection.
2. Distance yourself from loud sounds.
The more space you can put between yourself and loud noises, the safer it will be for your ears. It is very important to give your ears a break from loud sounds by walking away from any loud sound if you are forced to be exposed to it. Take small breaks and go to a quiet area so your ears can rest. A few minutes of rest is a huge factor in protecting the inner ears from becoming damaged.
3. Limit the time spent around loud sounds.
Even if the noise is not particularly loud, it can lead to tinnitus due to prolonged exposure. Try to be aware of it and limit its exposure as much as possible.
4. Wear HEARING AIDS!
Hearing aids are the solution to treat tinnitus in the long run. They alleviate the symptoms, and they can have a positive impact on tinnitus symptoms, especially with dedicated tinnitus masking features. These features offer sound relief options that help to distract the sufferer from the ongoing noise coming from the tinnitus. Once in use, the sound created by the hearing aid overshadows and masks the noise associated with tinnitus. All of this happens without interfering with the patient’s daily activities, and this is why hearing aids are so beneficial!
Circulatory Health
Some medical conditions affecting the circulatory system cause tinnitus. Heart health is also an important factor. When cholesterol and other deposits build up inside the blood vessels, it takes a lot of effort for the heart to pump blood through them. This causes the blood to flow more forcefully through the blood vessels that are near the ears, producing an audible rushing-like sound that has the same rhythm as your heartbeat. This condition is recognized as pulsatile tinnitus.
Maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels helps in preventing pulsatile tinnitus. You can do that by:
Changing your diet plan to a healthier one
Taking certain medications in an appropriate way
Alleviating stress
Exercising regularly
Emotional Health
Research has shown that stress, depression, fatigue, and anxiety all contribute to tinnitus. Tinnitus itself can elevate stress levels, which usually leads to all the aforementioned conditions.
Taking certain steps to break the cycle of emotional distress and fatigue helps control the symptoms of tinnitus and prevent tinnitus from getting worse. Learning how to relax and letting your body heal is very important because it gives the ears the best chance to get better. You can do that by:
Reducing anxiety
Getting more sleep
Managing stress through relaxation techniques such as acupressure, acupuncture, yoga, meditation, and massage therapy
Any moment where you feel some victory over your tinnitus counts! Small changes for the better can quickly add up to a more meaningful result! The more you can do to treat tinnitus or prevent it, the better your long-term outcome will be.