Tinnitus Unveiled: Causes, Treatment & Natural Remedies

If you’ve ever thought you heard ringing in your ear despite nothing ringing around you and no one else hearing it, you aren’t going crazy. This strange sensation is known as tinnitus and it can fill your head with sounds of ringing whistling, clicking and roaring.  It’s a fairly common condition that affects more than 50 million people in the United States. In most cases, it’s harmless and only occurs once in a while and for a short period of time but tinnitus can also produce a constant stream of sounds that affects your daily life. It may also be a symptom of a more serious health condition. So, let’s not waste any time. In this article, we break down the most important information about tinnitus, so you can start healing it at the source.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a unique condition that produces a symphony of sounds in your ears – from ringing and buzzing to hissing, chirping, whistling. These noises can come and go, or be continuous, and the volume can vary as well. The strangest thing is that the sounds tend to occur more commonly when your surroundings are quiet. They can even appear to be aligning with your heartbeat, a condition known as pulsatile tinnitus. It’s an incredibly common sensation that many people experience and in most cases, it’s entirely harmless and nothing more than a slight annoyance. But in severe cases, tinnitus can start to disrupt your concentration and sleep, eventually leading to problems with work and personal relationships, and psychological distress.

However, just because you have the odd ringing in your ear doesn’t necessarily mean you have to take action. It really comes down to the frequency in which you experience these sensations and whether or not they are symptom of something more serious happening. For example, chronic tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss. But there are also many people who have tinnitus have no trouble with their hearing at all. Some people may even develop hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to sound and other cases of tinnitus can be traced back to infections or obstructions in the ear. Many spiritual people also believe that ringing in your ears is nothing more than your spirit guide trying to send you a message.

But regardless of what you believe in, it is incredibly important to rule out any potential health problems linked to the ringing in your ears.

The Causes of Tinnitus

The most common cause of tinnitus is prolonged exposure to loud sounds. In fact, as many as 90% of individuals with tinnitus also experience some level of noise-induced hearing loss. This is because exposure to loud, excessive noise can lead to permanent damage in the delicate, sound-sensitive cells of the cochlea, an organ located in the inner ear.

This type of damage commonly affects individuals in professions such as carpentry, music, construction and landscaping, where loud equipment like chainsaws or amps are frequently used.

However, you don’t need to be in a loud profession to develop tinnitus. In fact, it only takes one exposure to incredibly loud noise to trigger tinnitus. There are also several other causes that can lead to tinnitus, such as:

• Ear blockages from the accumulation of earwax, ear infections, and, in rare cases, the presence of a benign tumor on the auditory nerve.
• Certain medications, including aspirin, certain antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, loop diuretics, antidepressants, and quinine medications, have tinnitus listed as a potential side effect. In fact, approximately 200 prescription and nonprescription drugs list tinnitus as a possible adverse reaction.
• Aging can contribute to tinnitus as this natural process in life can cause deterioration of the cochlea or other parts of the ear.
• Meniere’s disease, a condition that affects the inner ear, can also be a cause of tinnitus.
• Otosclerosis, a condition characterized by the stiffening of the small bones in the middle ear, can lead to tinnitus.
• Various medical conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, circulatory issues, anemia, allergies, an underactive thyroid gland, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes have been associated with tinnitus.
• Neck or jaw problems, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, can also contribute to the development of tinnitus.
• Head and neck injuries can trigger tinnitus.

Additionally, there are a variety of factors that can worsen tinnitus, such as excessive alcohol use, drinking caffeinated beverages, smoking and even eating certain foods. Stress and fatigue are also known to make tinnitus worse.

Common Treatments for Tinnitus

Treatment for tinnitus highly depends on the factors that are causing it. For example, if the ringing in your ears is a side effect of medication, your doctor may recommend discontinuing or switching to an alternative drug.  But this same approach wouldn’t necessarily make sense for someone who is experiencing tinnitus due to damage in the ear canal.

Additionally, treating tinnitus may not involve treating the ringing in your ear at all. For example, if you have an underlying health issue like high blood pressure that is contributing to tinnitus, the best course of action for you may actually be directed more towards managing your high blood pressure.

So, it’s important to identify the underlying cause of your tinnitus to find the best possible treatment for you. Speaking with a healthcare provider will help you do so.  However, to get you started on your healing journey as soon as possible, some common treatment options used for tinnitus are:

• Hearing aids: These devices can assist with age-related hearing loss and tinnitus by making sounds around you louder, which can ultimately make the ringing less noticeable.
• Ear-wax removal: If your tinnitus is being caused by a blockage from excess earwax, a doctor can go in and remove this buildup. 
• Sound maskers: These devices are worn in or behind the ear and produce continuous, low-level white noise to help block out the ringing.
• Retraining therapy: This approach involves counseling and the use of a device that emits tonal music to mask the tinnitus sounds.
• Relaxation techniques: Stress can exacerbate tinnitus, so finding relaxation techniques such as exercise, deep breathing, or meditation that can ease stress can be helpful.
• Medications: Certain medications, including specific hormones, topical anesthetics, and anti-anxiety drugs, can help with managing tinnitus. Additionally, changing medications that are causing your tinnitus can be the solution you’re looking for.

Natural Remedies for Tinnitus

Making adjustments to your daily routine and environment can significantly improve your ability to cope with those persistent ringing, hissing, or buzzing sounds in your ears. There are also many natural remedies that can help eradicate the sounds altogether.

Protect Your Hearing

First things first, let’s conquer any loud noises that are triggering your symptoms. If you work in an area or industry where it’s impossible to avoid excessive, loud sounds, make sure you’re using ear protection such as earplugs to block out some of the noise. You’ll also want to use ear protection when participating in noisy activities or tasks, whether it’s cutting the grass or sitting beside an amp at a concert.

Additionally, make sure you keep the volume of your music or television at 60% of the maximum volume (preferably lower when using earbuds). You can also limit the amount of time you spend with earphones, listening for no more than 60 minutes at a time.

Know Your Triggers

Learning what triggers your tinnitus is crucial for understanding what can be done to treat your symptoms naturally. Many people have found that certain foods, beverages, or medications can worsen their symptoms, so start writing down the things you put into your body on a daily basis and the moments you hear ringing in your ear. At the end of the day, week, month, etc. you can see if there is a pattern between something you’ve had and your symptoms, so you can avoid that trigger moving forward. Some possible triggers to be mindful of are:

• Caffeinated drinks like cola, coffee, tea, and energy drinks can spike tinnitus.
• Consuming alcohol can worsen tinnitus symptoms.
• Taking aspirin can worsen your symptoms.
• Eating too many salty foods can cause a spike in tinnitus.

Mask The Sound

A few simple changes in your environment and it can feel like the ringing in your ears is no longer there. Since tinnitus often becomes more noticeable in quiet environments, you may want to add some soft, calming sounds into your space to make the ringing less noticeable. Some popular options are:

• Have some background music playing in your space to help shift your focus away from the tinnitus sounds.
• Listen to the radio or your favourite podcasts when the room is silent.
• Turn on a fan or any other device that produces a gentle, consistent hum to help mask the tinnitus and provide relief.
• Try a white-noise machine, a device specifically designed to produce calming sounds like ocean waves, rainfall, or running streams. These natural sounds can effectively drown out the tinnitus and promote a more peaceful environment to help reduce stress and tackle two possible triggers in one.

Prioritize Relaxation

Since stress is a common factor that worsens tinnitus (and that is linked to pretty much every health concern out there) and your stress and frustration likely skyrocket when you can’t shake the ringing in your ear. So learning how to manage stress is key to keeping those annoying sounds at bay. Try to add these relaxation practices (or any others that you like) into your daily routine:

• Start practising yoga, a gentle form of exercise that combines movements, stretching, and deep breathing to promote relaxation and alleviate stress while also toning your body.
• Practice tai chi, a Chinese martial art known for its slow, flowing movements and focused breathing that can help create a sense of calm and inner peace.
• Dedicate time to meditate to focus your attention on the present moment and allow any unhelpful, negative or stressful thoughts to pass. Meditation is scientifically proven to help quiet the mind and reduce stress levels, amongst many other things. You can do it on your own or with a guided meditation track, while walking, or taking a shower, you name it.
• Try some progressive muscle relaxation, a technique where you tense and relax each muscle group in your body, starting from your toes and gradually working your way up. This technique helps release physical tension and induces a state of relaxation.
• Use guided imagery exercises to visualize peaceful and soothing scenes. This technique taps into the power of your imagination to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.
• Tune into a self-hypnosis audio track to induce a state of deep relaxation and achieve a heightened sense of calm.

Butt Out

If you’re a smoker, it’s time to consider kicking the habit. Smoking can have a negative impact on tinnitus in two significant ways. For one, it impairs blood flow to the delicate nerve cells responsible for your hearing, which can lead to the worsening of tinnitus symptoms. Secondly, smoking acts as a stimulant within your body, which can intensify the perception of the ringing in your ears, making it sound louder and more bothersome. By quitting smoking, you can potentially reduce and even eliminate the ringing in your ear.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is one of the most important things you can do for yourself, especially when it comes to treating tinnitus. Fatigue has been linked to worsening symptoms of tinnitus, which can further disrupt your sleep, creating a cycle of worsening symptoms. So, it’s time to sharpen up on your sleep habits. To prioritize your rest and get more high-quality sleep, try to incorporate these good sleep habits:

• Create a sleep-friendly environment: Make your bedroom dark and cool, turn on a fan or white-noise machine to provide a soothing background sound, and spray some lavender on your pillow. Invest in a comfortable mattress and pillows if needed to ensure optimal comfort when you’re in bed.
• Give yourself time for sleep: Schedule a consistent 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. This timeframe allows for ample rest and recovery.
• Establish a sleep schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Having a consistent sleep schedule will help regulate your body’s internal clock and promote a more restful sleep routine.
• Develop a calming bedtime routine: Choose some relaxing activities, such as taking a warm bath in Epsom salts, meditating or writing in your journal, that you can do before bed, to help signal your body that it’s time to unwind and prepare for sleep.
• Avoid stimulation before bedtime: Whether it’s vigorous exercise, heavy meals, caffeinated beverages or alcohol consumption, refrain from engaging in these indulges within 2 to 3 hours before you plan on going to bed. This should also include your tech devices!

Having tinnitus can feel like you have your own personal symphony playing in your head. You might experience a variety of sounds like ringing, whistling, clicking, or even roaring, and no one else around you can hear them. Fortunately, there are many treatment options and natural remedies that can significantly reduce your symptoms and even eradicate them over time.