Some cancer medicines. Seek Care Today Based on your answers, you may need care soon. Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care. If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today.
If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning. If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner. Seek Care Now Based on your answers, you may need care right away. Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour. You do not need to call an ambulance unless: You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you. You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down. Make an Appointment Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care. Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks. If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger. Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older. Home Treatment The following tips may help you reduce symptoms of tinnitus. Cut back on or stop drinking alcohol and beverages containing caffeine.
Stop smoking and stop using smokeless tobacco products. Nicotine use makes tinnitus worse by reducing blood flow to the structures of the ear. Limit your use of aspirin , products containing aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Exercise regularly. Exercise improves blood flow to the structures of the ear. But avoid extended periods of exercise, such as bicycle riding, that keep your neck in a hyperextended position.
For more information, see the topic Fitness: Getting and Staying Active. While waiting to see whether tinnitus goes away, or if your doctor has advised you that your tinnitus will be present for a long time, try these methods to cope with the constant noise: Limit or avoid exposure to the noises you suspect are causing your tinnitus. If you cannot avoid loud noises, wear protective earplugs or earmuffs. Try to ignore the sound by directing your attention to other things. Practice relaxation techniques, such as biofeedback , meditation , or yoga.
Stress and fatigue seem to make tinnitus worse. Quiet rooms can cause tinnitus to seem more distracting. Background noise may reduce the amount of noise you hear. Play music or white noise when you are trying to fall asleep or anytime you find yourself in a quiet place. Try using a fan, a humidifier, or a machine that makes soothing sounds such as ocean waves.
Try the herbal supplement ginkgo biloba. Some studies suggest that it may help relieve tinnitus, but other studies do not show a benefit. Further studies are needed to determine the best dosage. Symptoms to watch for during home treatment Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment: Symptoms develop that are related to nerve damage, such as loss of coordination or numbness or weakness on one side of the face or one side of the body.
Other symptoms develop, such as significant hearing loss, vertigo , loss of balance, nausea or vomiting. Tinnitus localizes to one ear. Hearing loss becomes worse after an ear injury, or tinnitus or hearing loss does not improve. Tinnitus continues for more than a week. Your symptoms become more severe or more frequent. Prevention You may be able to prevent ringing in the ears if you: Limit or avoid exposure to loud noises, such as music, power tools, gunshots, and industrial machinery.
Wear protective earplugs or earmuffs if you cannot avoid loud noises. Do not use wadded-up tissue or cotton balls. These do not protect adequately against loud noises, especially the more dangerous high frequencies, and they may become lodged in the ear canal. Be careful when using stereo headphones. If music is so loud that others can hear it clearly or you can't hear other sounds around you, the volume is too high. Do not smoke or use smokeless tobacco products.
Nicotine use may cause tinnitus by reducing blood flow to the structures of the ear. For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking. Exercise may prevent tinnitus because it improves blood flow to the structures of the ear. Maintain a healthy weight. Tinnitus occurs more frequently in obese adults. For more information, see the topic Weight Management.
You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions: When did your tinnitus start?
Have you ever had tinnitus before? How old were you when you first had problems with tinnitus? Is the tinnitus in one or both ears?
Do you feel like the noise is inside your head? How would you describe your tinnitus? Is it high-pitched or low-pitched? The most effective treatment for non-pulsatile, benign tinnitus is cognitive behavioral therapy. Specific behavioral therapy, called tinnitus retraining therapy, has consistently been shown to reduce tinnitus compared to other treatment modalities.
This can also aid in addressing any underlying stress or anxiety about the condition. Ultimately, tinnitus is a very challenging condition for both patients and physicians.
Being informed is important in helping you manage this condition. If you feel that tinnitus is interfering with your life or causing you significant stress, ask your physician about your options. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
I find turning of the TV and radio and also remembering to use hearing protection when using power equipment really helps. Try it for two weeks. I have had worsening tinnitus for many years and now my middle-aged son has it as well. We both suffer from nasal problems such as allergic rhinitis, sinus problems, colds always worse than normal, etc etc. Has any research been carried out into this area?
We would very much like to know. I have severe intrusive tinnitus. I have tried many types of treatments with minimal relief. Maybe this year? I tried acupuncture for my nonpulsatile tinnitus. Good luck! If you think you might need a hearing checkup, you probably do. This Special Health Report, Coping with Hearing Loss: A guide to prevention and treatment , contains in-depth information on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss. You'll learn how to prevent hearing loss and preserve the hearing you have now.
You'll also learn about the latest advances in hearing aid technology and find out which kind of hearing device may be best for you. Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.
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If you experience the following tinnitus symptoms, you should see an otolaryngologist ENT doctor and audiologist: When the tinnitus is only in one ear When the sound is affecting your quality of life When the sound starts suddenly or changes in volume or duration When the sound is accompanied with hearing loss or dizziness When it sounds like your heartbeat. Oberman, M. Perry 1 Franklin T. Cataract Surgery Learn More.
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