6 tips to reduce the severity of tinnitus.
Health tips: Self-help tips for tinnitus | | Dear Reader, Tinnitus is the perception of sound in your ear caused by no apparent external source. The sound is characterized as a ringing, buzzing, whistling, chirping, hissing, humming, roaring or clicking, among other descriptions. Some people refer to it as music or the sound of boiling water. Regardless of how it’s described, it’s a sound that’s not produced in your surroundings. Often, the noise seems to originate in your head. Many people experience brief episodes of tinnitus after being exposed to an extremely loud noise or taking certain medications. But few people are overly alarmed by such episodes, and the sound usually goes away. According to the American Tinnitus Association, about 50 million people in the U.S. experience tinnitus. For about 20 million of these people, tinnitus is chronic, meaning it’s a long-term issue. And 2% have tinnitus that’s so extreme that it’s almost unbearable. Reduce the severity of tinnitus and cope with its symptoms by taking these steps: | Protect your hearing. Avoid loud noises, which may decrease your hearing and worsen tinnitus. If you work in a noisy environment, wear hearing protection devices regularly. Fill your environment with sound. If you’re in a quiet setting where tinnitus may seem more obvious, use a masker, fan, soft music, low-volume radio or commercially available sound generator to produce soft background noise that masks the tinnitus. Listening to pleasant and relaxing sounds can be helpful. Distract yourself. Many people say they don’t hear tinnitus if they’re not paying attention to it. Do things that you enjoy and that absorb your attention. This will help take your mind off the tinnitus and provide needed relief. Manage your stress. Stress can make tinnitus seem worse. The basic principles of a healthy lifestyle go a long way toward reducing stress — get plenty of sleep and exercise, and eat a healthy diet. For example, reducing tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and salt intake may help you better cope with the aggravation of your tinnitus. Practice good sleep habits. People who sleep well tend to manage their tinnitus better. Although you might not be able to control all the factors that interfere with sleep, you can adopt habits that encourage better sleep. For example, try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every day, and keep your bedroom comfortable and dark. Educate yourself. Learning about tinnitus can give you a sense of control over it. |
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