How Can Your Lifestyle Negatively Impact Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a symptom of another condition that causes ringing in the ears. Many things can cause tinnitus, including loud noise exposure, earwax buildup and certain medications. However, lifestyle choices can also play a role in causing or worsening tinnitus. Read on to learn about how your lifestyle can negatively impact tinnitus.

Loud Noise Exposure

One of the most common causes of tinnitus is loud noise exposure. This could be from listening to music too loudly, working in a noisy environment or being exposed to loud noises from machinery or tools. When you are exposed to loud noises, it damages the hair cells in your inner ear. These hair cells are responsible for sending sound signals to your brain. When they are damaged, they can no longer send these signals properly, leading to the ringing sound associated with tinnitus.

If you already have tinnitus, exposure to loud noises can worsen it. Therefore, avoiding loud noise whenever possible is essential to protect your hearing and prevent tinnitus. If you must be exposed to loud noise, wear hearing protection such as earplugs or earmuffs.

Stress and Anxiety

Another way your lifestyle can negatively impact tinnitus is by increasing stress and anxiety levels. When stressed or anxious, your body enters fight or flight mode. This means your body prepares for danger by releasing hormones such as adrenaline. These hormones can cause physical reactions such as an increased heart rate and high blood pressure. In some people, this can also lead to or worsen tinnitus symptoms. In addition, if you already have tinnitus, stress and anxiety can make it more challenging to cope with the condition.

To help manage stress and anxiety levels, you can try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises or meditation. You may also want to consider talking to a therapist who can help you learn how to better deal with stress and anxiety.

Smoking

Smoking is another lifestyle choice that can negatively impact tinnitus. This is because smoking increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease narrows the blood vessels in your body, including those in your inner ear. This narrowing of the blood vessels decreases blood flow to the inner ear, which can damage the hair cells responsible for sending sound signals to your brain. In addition, smoking also increases inflammation throughout your body, including in the inner ear.

This inflammation can also damage these hair cells and lead to tinnitus symptoms. If you smoke and have tinnitus, quitting smoking may help improve your symptoms over time.

Talk to a Hearing Health Professional

If your lifestyle negatively impacts your tinnitus, talking to a hearing health professional is essential. They can help you identify potential causes of your tinnitus and make recommendations to help you manage it better. Your hearing health professional can also provide tips on avoiding activities that could worsen your symptoms or suggest lifestyle changes that may help improve them. With their guidance and support, you can manage your tinnitus better and reduce its impact on your life.

Many things can cause or worsen tinnitus symptoms. Some of these causes are out of your control, but there are also lifestyle choices that you can make that will impact whether or not you develop tinnitus or how severe your symptoms are if you already have it. Talk to a hearing health professional to learn more about how your lifestyle can affect tinnitus and what steps you can take to minimize its negative impact.