The ailment tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can be maddening. Even in the quietest places the ringing won't stop. Someone with tinnitus hears noises, usually irritating like a constant ringing, even when no actual noise is present. Tinnitus can come from years of listening to loud music or working around loud machinery. Another common cause is an adverse reaction to medication.
Instructions
1. If you are taking over-the-counter or prescription medications, consult with your doctor or pharmacist. They may say it is possible to stop taking the medication, or in the case of prescription medications your doctor may be able to substitute another drug. These measures may alleviate your tinnitus.
2. Ask your doctor to recommend a good multivitamin. Some studies have shown that tinnitus can be the result of vitamin deficiency.
3. Unless directed otherwise by your doctor, try to avoid aspirin or similar over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain killers like ibuprofen or naproxen.
4. If you are healthy enough, begin an exercise routine that focuses on cardiovascular fitness. Better blood flow can sometimes alleviate tinnitus.
5. Cut back on alcohol and quit smoking. Both of these affect the circulatory system.
6. If tinnitus is particularly noticeable when you're alone in quiet rooms, and this is making sleeping or studying difficult, try playing a radio at a very low volume. Often external noise can cancel the awareness of tinnitus. If used while sleeping, experiment with the volume setting. The lower the volume the better. If external noise seems to help or cancel the ringing sensation, consider buying a machine that emits white noise or makes soothing sounds like those of birds the surf on a beach. Sleep is crucial to health, so this step is especially important.
7. Consider trying one of the popular herbal remedies. Some sufferers claim to have obtained relief of tinnitus after taking ginkgo biloba supplements.
Tags: your doctor, external noise, prescription medications