What Lifestyle Factors Influence Tinnitus

According to an estimation provided by the American Tinnitus Association, over 50 million Americans or 15% of the general public, experience this at least once during their lifetime. Tinnitus is a hearing condition that causes you to hear phantom noises such as clicking, buzzing or ringing. Generally, tinnitus is not a medical condition on its own but a symptom of another underlying condition. Factors such as age, gender and genetics can increase the likelihood of experiencing tinnitus. However, some lifestyle factors can significantly contribute towards relieving or worsening this condition. If you experience tinnitus, the first is always to speak to your hearing instrument specialist (HIS). This is the first to identify any underlying conditions and lifestyle factors that are contributing to your condition.

Exposure to loud noises

Exposure to loud noises or noisy environments can be extremely detrimental for our hearing and often lead to conditions such as noise-induced hearing loss. And, today, we are all more exposed to loud noises than ever before. Whether that’s because of loud machinery, live music or a noisy workplace, loud noises can impact your hearing quality in many aspects. While you might not be in the position of changing your work or hobbies, you might be able to bring your attention to your hearing health. Simple solutions such as hearing protection can help you relieve the symptoms of tinnitus.

Hearing loss

If you have experienced hearing loss, you might also be more prone to experience tinnitus. Hearing loss happens when the hair cells in the inner ear are damaged, bent or broken. These tiny hair cells are the ones responsible for receiving the sound waves and pass information to the brain. This kind of hearing loss is bound to happen because of age or lifestyle factors. And, if your inner ear’s hair cells are damaged, they might send out random electrical impulses, which cause the tinnitus effect to happen. Your HIS will be able to help you find the right hearing aid for your condition.

Traumas such as sport injuries

Traumas such as head or neck injuries can damage the inner ear, brain functions linked to hearing or hearing nerves. For example, these traumas can happen in sporting environments when an athlete received a blow to the head. When damage to the inner ear happens, some connected muscles can cause spasms to take place. In turn, this can cause a ringing or buzzing in the ear.

Medications and medical conditions

Certain medications and medical conditions might cause you to experience tinnitus as a side effect. Some drugs are also actively damaging for the ears – such as ototoxic medications. If your tinnitus is related to certain medications you are taking, you will notice the symptoms worsening when increasing the drug’s dosage. Some medications known to cause tinnitus are cancer drugs, diuretics, antibiotics, antidepressants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A consultation with your HIS will help you understand whether a ringing in the ears might be linked to a combination of medications.

High-stress levels and poor sleep quality

High-stress levels and poor sleep quality are often connected, and they have severe consequences on many aspects of our health. The more stressed you are, the more your blood pressure or hypertension is likely to rise, which can worsen tinnitus. Indeed, tinnitus is more commonly seen in people who have stressful jobs or have irregular sleep patterns. Regaining your sleep quality can help you better deal with stress during your daily life and, in turn, sleep better at night. Once this circle is restored, you might notice the symptoms of tinnitus fade. You might also try relaxation exercises before bed to fall asleep quicker.

Consumption of alcohol and tobacco

Medical studies have shown a connection between tinnitus and alcohol and tobacco consumption. This is because these substances affect the blood vessels, which, in turn, can affect the blood flow to the ear.

Your diet can contribute to tinnitus

As several more lifestyle medicine studies have been released, we have all become more conscious about how much our diet can influence our health. Tinnitus is no different! Salty foods and snacks can increase your daily sodium intake, which, in turn, can cause hypertension and worsen the symptoms of tinnitus. Similarly, caffeine can also increase blood pressure, thus making tinnitus more noticeable.

How can Niagara Hearing and Speech Clinic help?

Here at Niagara Hearing and Speech Clinic, we have over 25 years of experience in the field of hearing health. Our team of professional and certified HIS is here to help you find the right tinnitus solution for your needs. Learn more about Niagara Hearing and Speech Clinic here and contact us today at (855) 797-8002.