6 Effective Tips to Reduce Your Chances of Getting Tinnitus
Did you know that over 20% of the world population suffers from tinnitus? This is a common problem that many people ignore and overlook. Medical researchers estimate that this bothersome buzzing affects about 50 million people in the U.S. alone. The condition leads to a low quality of life, trouble sleeping, and has even led to mental distress in some people. If you haven’t developed its symptoms, the following tips will lower your chances of getting tinnitus and maximize the quality of your life.
1. Avoid loud noises
Most people who have reported the symptoms of tinnitus have been exposed to loud noises such as sports stadiums or rock concerts. What follows this exposure are sleepless nights of constant buzzing and ringing in the ears. Prolonged exposure to
damaging volumes damages fragile hair cells in the cochlea, resulting in the distortion of auditory information sent to the brain. This type of damage is irreversible. Wearing proper protective gear such as earplugs can save you from the effects of unhealthy loud volumes.
2. Visit your doctor regularly for checkups
Hearing health professionals like Helix Hearing Care conduct testing to establish the baseline of their patients’ hearing abilities. If they detect a change, they track it, establish its cause and potentially treat the condition. Visit your hearing health practitioner to have the risk assessed.
3. Take medications according to prescription
Never miss a dose, especially when taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin are common causes of hearing loss. An overdose of antidepressants or antibiotics can also cause hearing loss or tinnitus. These are ototoxic medications. Observe the recommended dosages to minimize the chances of getting either of them.
4. Eat healthily
Our diet is a critical factor that determines our exposure to tinnitus infection. While you may avoid loud noises, lack of vitamins A and E, magnesium deficiency, iron deficiency, and lack of minerals may subject you to hearing loss and tinnitus. You can effectively protect your hearing health by taking supplements as directed and having a healthy diet. However, maintaining a healthy body goes beyond our diet. Alcohol, too much sugar, and smoking may lead to severe tinnitus symptoms.
5. Reduce stress and anxiety
Deep breathing, meditation, relaxation techniques, and scheduled breaks can greatly help lower the chances of getting tinnitus. The symptoms of tinnitus are evident in stressful situations but unnoticeable when one is away on vacation.
6. Take a break from a noisy environment
Certain places like clubs and restaurants can expose you to loud noises over a long period of time. Studies recommend that after spending time in a noisy environment, it’s important to give your ears a break of around 16 hours for recovery. Having quiet time outside a loud environment can help reduce exhaustion and stress in your auditory system.
Endnote
Tinnitus can change your life. Apart from mental distress, anxiety, and trouble sleeping, it can affect your work, as it’s hard to work efficiently with painful and irritating symptoms. While damages on the cochlear hair cells are irreversible, proper medications, avoidance of loud noises, and consulting your doctor can help reduce the risks of contracting tinnitus.
