What causes Tinnitus? 10 Ways to Get Rid of Tinnitus Naturally

Do you often hear sounds like ringing or buzzing in your ears? Do these sounds come and go or do you even hear them all the time? Do you feel dizzy, unsteady and off-balance sometimes? If so, there is a possibility that you suffer from tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a condition marked by the perception or sensation of sound, which does not exist outside of the environment. The most common symptom of tinnitus is ringing noise, which can also be heard inside the ear. Tinnitus can be extremely debilitating and often accompanies hearing loss.

What causes tinnitus?

Many people believe it to be caused by age-related hearing loss. However, other conditions like noise exposure, stress, medications, head injury or an infection can all cause a person to experience tinnitus. For many people with tinnitus, the ringing noise persists even after they have been able to leave the noisy environment that caused it. Most people experience the onset of tinnitus after age fifty, though it can affect people at any age. According to the American Tinnitus Association, more than 50 million people in North America are affected by tinnitus.

Tinnitus can be caused by certain factors like injury to the ear, ageing of the ears etc and can occur in one or both ears. In most cases, tinnitus is caused by exposure to loud sounds which can damage the inner ear. Tinnitus results from problems with hearing nerve cells just like your eyesight are affected if there’s a problem with light receptors (rods and cones) at the back of the eye.

Tinnitus is a result of the auditory nerve being damaged because of exposure to loud sounds. In simpler terms, tinnitus is caused by “broken” inner ear hair cells. Even the short exposure to loud sounds (85-90 decibels) can result in such damage to the human body. If you are exposed to prolonged and repeated high levels of sound above 120 dB, chances may become higher that you will experience tinnitus especially if you are young.

All the sounds around us have specific frequencies: tinnitus is characterized by abnormal sounds with a much higher frequency than those that cause it. It may be difficult to believe but a buzzing sound caused by tinnitus can range from 10 Hertz (Hz) to 60,000 Hz! Hearing loss usually occurs when hair cells in your inner ear deteriorate and can no longer send signals to the brain. Such hair cells in one ear fail to convert sound waves into electrical impulses- the normal process which then results in tinnitus. 

Many people are afraid of getting tinnitus. But, it’s not a serious condition and does not cause any harm to health if one ignores it. However, when you have tinnitus, there is no denying that the ringing or buzzing sound can be very irritating. It interferes with attention span and makes concentration difficult which in turn affects the quality of work. Tinnitus can make your life miserable if you are exposed to it for long hours at the workplace.

There is no scientifically proven way to prevent tinnitus. However, the advice below is useful in helping cope with this disorder.

If you have tinnitus, avoid excessively loud noise. Although there are no scientific studies to support this recommendation, those with tinnitus often find that their symptoms are worse when exposed to loud noise. However, there are some steps that can protect your hearing and reduce your risk of developing tinnitus.

10 ways to get rid of tinnitus naturally

Here is a list of preventive measures that can help reduce the risk of tinnitus:

1) If you have loud noise in your ears, such as from being in a rock concert, try to use high fidelity earplugs. LiveMusic’s HearSafe and HearGreat earplugs are designed for protecting your hearing and they are comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

HearSafe earplugs lower the volume of a loud show within an acceptable level for safety, while HearGreat earplugs lower the volume even further and provide amplified music sound; they are popular with musicians.

HearSafe earplugs are the best high fidelity earplugs that provide AMAZING HEARING PROTECTION, SAFEGUARD YOUR EARS against loud sounds that can leave lasting damage to your hearing like tinnitus & noise-induced hearing loss. They significantly reduce loud noises to levels below 85dB (recommended for those with young children).

LiveMus!c provides two sizes of HearSafe earplugs: standard size and a large size for people with larger ears. There are two pairs included, each with a different noise reduction rating (NRR), respectively 29 and 23 dB. Both pairs can be used in order to keep loud shows within the safe range of 85 dB or lower.

Now forget about ringing ears after enjoying a party with your favourite artist, watching the live game or every day sounds like riding the subway, HearSafe has you covered. You can even safely wear them at the shooting range or concerts!

HearGreat earplugs are ideal for musicians because they lower specific frequency ranges that add high frequencies to the amplified music that you hear. That way, your ears are still getting the great sounds they need, while ensuring a safe listening experience.

2) Distance yourself from sounds if possible, and minimize your time in places where there are high levels of noise. If there is no way to immediately change your surroundings, consider wearing earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Being exposed to loud sounds can cause permanent damage to the delicate hair cells in your inner ear. Loud noises, such as those from heavy machinery or from concerts and clubs, can also trigger tinnitus symptoms.

3) Limit time spent around loud sounds. You should avoid places where there are loud noises, and especially if you’re frequently in these places. For example, they may be exposed to music or other sounds that can cause tinnitus. Workplaces in particular have the potential to generate noise levels that can affect your ears. In addition, try to reduce the time spent using any devices such as televisions, computers, and even cell phones.

4) Quit smoking and alcohol: Excessive smoking and drinking can also cause tinnitus, so avoid these as much as you can. Smoking damages your blood vessels, voice box tissues, and nerves. Alcohol dehydrates the body which causes the ear to ache and pressure in the head. Both of these might lead to tinnitus problems.

5)Protect your heart: People with irregular heartbeats or other circulatory problems in the head and neck are more likely to experience tinnitus. As people get older, their blood vessels start having tiny cracks which might also cause hearing loss. So keep your heart healthy by taking care of yourself.

6) De-stress your life: Stress and anxiety can worsen tinnitus symptoms. Whatever be the reason for excessive stress, take at least twenty minutes out of your busy schedule to relax. Lie on a bed or sit in a comfortable chair with closed eyes and breathe deeply.

7) Check your head posture: Poor head posture can cause tinnitus. To keep your neck straight, hold your head with a fist and lift it up from the back. Keep your chin parallel to the ground.

8) Keep senses active: Do not let overstimulation of senses affect you. For example, if you love watching TV or listening to music at high volumes, then watch it at a moderate level. Overstimulation of senses can cause hearing loss which in turn leads to tinnitus problems. So, be sensible about your life and responsibilities.

9) Practise Yoga and Pranayam: Yoga is known for its benefits towards health and fitness. Yoga helps in stretching the muscles which are affected by stress and anxiety. Pranayam is also an effective way to relax your mind. Yoga can help in getting rid of tinnitus naturally.

10) Take vitamins and supplements: Make sure to include essential vitamins like Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Zinc, Niacin and Magnesium in your diet. These are known to be good for health and can help you prevent tinnitus problems.