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What's That Ringing? 3 Steps To Alleviate The Discomfort Of Tinnitus

15 December 2016 by Julia Gregory

If you've been troubled by an annoying ringing in your ears, you may be suffering from tinnitus. The first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with your doctor.  Your doctor will be able to develop a treatment plan that will help you overcome the condition. The second thing you should do is identify the different types of sounds you might be hearing. In addition to ringing, tinnitus can also cause buzzing, hissing, and humming sounds.

Third, you'll want to keep track of how the sounds begin – for instance, what types of activities are you participating in when the sounds develop? This information will help your doctor create a treatment plan that works best for you. Finally, you'll need to find some methods to alleviate the discomfort while you wait for your appointment. Here are three steps you can take to alleviate the discomfort of tinnitus.

Get Adequate Rest

The symptoms of tinnitus can be exacerbated by poor sleep habits. If you wake up tired after a full night of sleep, or your sleep is often interrupted, the symptoms you're experiencing could be made worse. To help relieve the discomfort of tinnitus, you need to get adequate rest each night. Some methods to improve your sleep include:

• Darken your room
• Turn the temperature down a few degrees
• Make bedtime a routine
• Use a fan to create white noise in your room

Avoid Cigarette Smoke

If you smoke, and you're suffering from tinnitus, you should talk to your doctor about a smoking cessation program. Smoking can interfere with blood flow to the nerves inside your ear, which can cause the ringing. It's also a good idea to avoid second-hand smoke when you suffer from tinnitus.

Listen to Soothing Music

While a quiet room is often relaxing, when you have tinnitus, a quiet room can actually make the ringing seem louder. To calm the ringing, try listening to soothing music. Be sure to keep the volume of the music turned down low to avoid ear damage. Whenever you hear the ringing or buzzing kicking in, turn the music on.

If you've been experiencing ringing, or other annoying sounds in your ears, you should consult with your physician as soon as possible. You may have tinnitus. Your doctor will help you identify the cause of your tinnitus and arrange a treatment plan for you. In addition to the treatment plan your doctor provides, use the tips provided here to alleviate the distress.

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