Can Lifestyle Changes Help Alleviate Tinnitus Symptoms

Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying condition – the persistent buzzing and ringing in the ears that it causes can really affect day to day life. It’s often associated with hearing loss, and people can experience it due to a multitude of different factors. These include exposure to loud noises, age related hearing loss and various underlying medical conditions. Audiologists can play a vital role in helping you find relief with both treatment options and recommending lifestyle changes. These lifestyle changes really can contribute to reducing the prominence of tinnitus in your life – here are a few to consider.

Take a Look at Your Medication

If you have a health condition, it’s really important to take your medication – so don’t change anything without the advice of your general practitioner. However, if you mention your tinnitus to your doctor, you could explore different options and see if there’s any alternatives you could try. It might be that a medication you’re on is a trigger for your tinnitus or makes it worse and a simple swap to something else makes a big difference.

Quit Smoking

Beyond the harm that it causes to your lungs, did you know that smoking can make tinnitus worse? Research suggests that it can exacerbate tinnitus symptoms by making them more noticeable. When you quit smoking, you’re taking a step towards improving your overall health as well as potentially alleviating the impact of tinnitus in your life.

Reduce Your Alcohol Intake

Excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to heightened tinnitus symptoms – it affects the blood flow and circulation in the inner ear, leading to increased awareness of tinnitus sounds. By moderating your alcohol intake, you have the potential to improve the way you perceive your tinnitus. We all know that too much alcohol is harmful overall, so taking steps to drink less or even cut out alcohol completely is a worthwhile decision for your health.

Practice Healthy Hearing Habits

Taking steps to look after your hearing overall can prevent damage as well as reduce or improve your tinnitus. Consider using earmuffs or earplugs in noisy settings like the workplace or festivals, give your ears regular breaks when you’re somewhere loud by going to a quieter area and generally take proactive steps to avoid very loud sounds which can damage your hearing. Hearing damage can happen with consistent exposure to moderate sounds, or infrequent exposure to loud sounds which is something to be aware of.

Address Your Earwax Buildup

The solution to tinnitus might be as simple as addressing your earwax buildup. This can be a result of it blocking sound and irritating the ear canal. It can also indirectly cause or intensify tinnitus symptoms. Your audiologist can let you know if this is a likely cause of your tinnitus, and they can remove this in a safe and effective way.

Use Hearing Aids with Masking Features

Another way you can improve the way you experience tinnitus is by using hearing aids that have masking features on them. These hearing aids have the ability to play calming sounds to cover up the tinnitus noises. Soothing sounds like ocean waves or gentle breezes can shift your attention away from the tinnitus sounds. Work closely with your audiologist to find the correct hearing aids for you, that way you can take back control over your hearing and enjoy a more peaceful world of sounds.