Tinnitus is referred to the noise or ringing in the ears. It’s quite a common ear problem that affects 1 out of every 5 people around the world. The condition in itself, is usually a sign of another disease- ageing, underlying circulatory problem or other medical problems.
Though Tinnitus is more or less a harmless condition, it is challenging to live with it, therefore needs proper treatment. The ringing of ears do not have any origin in your surroundings yet you feel the ringing of ears, sometimes roaring, or buzzing. The noise you hear is annoying and leads to disturbance in your lifestyle.
If you have been suffering from this condition, then keep reading. Tinnitus has natural treatments in addition to treatment suggested by your doctor.
Here are some ways to stop the ringing in ears:
- Learn what makes Tinnitus worse for you. The first step of treating the ringing in your ears is, to find out the factors that make the noise unbearable. Certain foods, drinks, drugs or even habits can make the symptoms worse. As not everyone is affected the same way, each have their own triggers. Keep a written log of all that could possibly make Tinnitus worse for you. You may not need to avoid every possible trigger but note things affect your symptoms.
Some possible triggers include:
- Drinks with caffeine such as cola, coffee, tea, and energy drinks
- Alcohol
- Aspirin
- Salt
- The habit of smoking in fact is two way worse for the ringing in ears as it harms blood flow to the sensitive nerve cells that control your hearing and also acts as a stimulant in your body making the ringing in your ears sound louder.
- Plan time to relax every day. Living with phantom ringing in your ears is challenging, it’s normal to feel anxious and annoyed but stress and worry can make your symptoms worse. Relaxing is a way to cope with the condition.
Try these relaxation methods that can ease stress and improve your mood:
- 15 minutes of deep relaxation
- Yoga
- Tai-chi
- Meditation
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Guided imagery
- Self-hypnosis
Even for relaxing total silence is not advisable, try a quiet, soothing background noise to help mask tinnitus symptoms and improve concentration.
- Get enough sleep. Fatigue, lack of sleep often makes the Tinnitus symptoms worse, turning even the softest of hums into a loud roar. If the constant ringing of ears will not let you sleep then it becomes a vicious cycle.
The natural treatment to cope with the condition is, to practice good sleep habits. Set aside 7 to 9 hours. Make your bedroom uncluttered, dark and cool. Make sure your bed and pillows are comfortable and supportive. If it’s too quiet use a fan or white-noise machine.
Develop a bedtime routine, go to bed and get up at the same time every day. A relaxing warm bath right before bedtime is advisable. Also avoid exercise, food, and alcohol 2 to 3 hours before going to sleep.
- Play Some Music. The phantom ringing of ears may bother you more when it’s quiet, so music is a good distraction. Get rid of the ringing sound in your ears fast by putting in soothing music at a moderate sound level. In fact, this remedy is very good for curing the side effects of tinnitus, like inability to fall asleep and focus on your tasks. Too loud music or screaming soundtracks can harm your eardrums, so only soft and soothing melodies are recommended.
Add soothing sounds to silence.
- Play soft music in the background
- Listen to the radio
- Turn on a fan
- You can also try a white-noise machine, which create the sounds of ocean waves, rainfall, or a running stream.
- Stay Away From Loud Sounds. Sounds below the frequency of 75 decibels do not cause tinnitus, but anything above that is harmful. Noise-canceling ear buds help reduce the decibels that reach your eardrums. In fact, if you frequently suffer from tinnitus, even the loud blaring of horns in the traffic and the screams of hawkers can trigger an episode. So, it’s recommended to use noise-cancelling ear buds at all times whenever you leave your house.
- Don’t Use Earbuds To Clean Your Ears. If you suffer from ringing in the ears its best to avoid cleaning your ears with ear buds (a.k.a Q-tips). The earwax in your ear helps protect your ear canal from dust, dirt, and insects and removing them is not the best solution. Also, ear buds are ineffective because they only push earwax closer to your eardrum that only worsen the ringing in your ears. If you have too much earwax accumulated in your ears, which is causing you discomfort, then it is advisable to get an ENT to clear it out for you, instead of trying to do it yourself.
- Consult a Doctor if Tinnitus is a side effect of Medications. Many a times Tinnitus is the side effect of the following medications.
- Antibiotics like vancomycin and erythromycin
- Diuretics like furosemide and bumetanide
- Antimalarial drugs
- Anticancer drugs
- Antidepressants (not all)
- High dose aspirin
If you are on any of these above medications, it’s better to consult your doctor regarding substituting the drugs for other components. Do not stop taking your medicines because of tinnitus, as phantom buzzing in ears is harmless but not taking your medications is dangerous for your health.
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