TINNITUS

When you are hearing bells and it is not even Sunday, you could have tinnitus, an unusual symptom that causes a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears. This is an especially persistent condition, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly.

In the meantime, however, there are ways to make tinnitus a little less annoying.

Stay away from stimulants. Doctors have found that drinking alcohol or coffee or smoking cigarettes can make tinnitus worse. For some, giving these things up can significantly reduce the noise.

Stop taking aspirin. If you take aspirin regularly, you many want to consider switching to another pain reliever, like ibuprofen. Taking aspirin on a regular basis has been shown to increase the risk for tinnitus and also to make the symptoms worse.

Protect your ears. Exposure to loud sounds – caused by everything from rock concerts to lawnmowers – can make tinnitus worse. Try to avoid loud environments whenever possible. Or, if like most people you can’t do that, if you wear ear plugs it should significantly reduce the volume. You can purchase different types at a drugstore, or a doctor can prescribe something that will filter out harmful noise while still allowing you to hear.

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WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR
People who have tinnitus sometimes have an underlying problem, such as an ear
infection, Meniere’s disease, or even heart disease or anemia. That’s why
people with tinnitus need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
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Turn on a distraction. Having constant noise in your ears can be annoying, to say the least. Doctors often recommend that people “mask” the sound of tinnitus by giving themselves other things to listen to – playing the radio softly at night, for example, or turning on a fan.

Eat well to protect your hearing. Research suggests that a healthy diet may help protect you from tinnitus and other types of hearing damage. You may want to ask your doctor about magnesium, as well. Some research has suggested that people who don’t get enough of this mineral may be at risk for hearing problems.