What makes Tinnitus better & worse ?
Tinnitus is the term for a ringing or buzzing noise in your ears. Tinnitus is not a disease — it’s a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury or a circulatory system disorder. Though tinnitus is an irritating symptom, usually there isn’t any underlying serious condition.
Two types of tinnitus are described:
- Subjective tinnitus which can be only heard by the patient.This is the most common type of tinnitus. It can be caused by ear problems in your outer, middle or inner ear. It can also be caused by problems with the hearing (auditory) nerves or the part of your brain that interprets nerve signals as sound (auditory pathways).
- Objective tinnitus which can even be heard by the examiner when he does an examination.This rare type of tinnitus may be caused by a blood vessel problem, a middle ear bone condition or muscle contractions.
THINGS THAT MAKE TINNITUS BETTER –
- Take healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
- Engage in physical activity like walking, playing etc.
- Engage in social activity like meeting friends/relatives.
- Talk to family/friends/doctor if there is any stress.
- Early to bed and early to rise (8 hours sound sleep is necessary).
- Manage stress positively. Practice yoga and medication.
THINGS THAT MAKE TINNITUS WORSE –
- Avoid coffee/tea. Caffeine can raise your blood pressure.
- Decrease salt consumption. Salt is related to a higher blood pressure level which can affect the blood flow to your ears and can activate your Tinnitus.
- Avoid alcohol consumption and smoking as much as possible. Smoking cigarettes can narrow the blood vessels that deliver oxygen to cells in the ear, thus triggering or exacerbating tinnitus. Drinking can boost your blood pressure, which can make you notice the ringing more.
- Avoid self-medication of any stream of medicine (some medications can cause ear nerve damage & ringing sensation in the ear. Few of the medicines implicated are antibiotics, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cancer drugs, diuretics, and high doses of aspirin.
- Avoid exposure to loud noises as much as possible. Use ear protections/ earplugs or try to reduce the volume of the noises.
- Avoid silent environment. Block out the tinnitus with a ‘cover-up’ by putting on a fan, Air Conditioner, slow music etc.
ADHERE TO MEDICATIONS, ADVISE OF SPECIALISTS AND PROPER FOLLOW UP.