Are You Making Your Ear Ringing Worse? 5 Tinnitus Tips to Help

There isn't yet a cure for tinnitus, but there are things you can do to help prevent your problem from getting worse and to even make it better.

Ringing in the ears (also called tinnitus) is a common, distressing condition (affecting nearly 50 million people in the United States) that can cause serious impacts on your life (ranging from feelings of social isolation to depression). But it doesn't have to be this way. Read on to learn how to better live with (and manage) ringing in the ears.

1. Can loud noise make tinnitus worse?

Reducing exposure to loud, ear-irritating sounds can help improve tinnitus and keep it from getting worse. Safeguard ears with earplugs or other ear protection devices when noise exposure is unavoidable. Move away from noise sources when possible. Make sure the volume used with headphones and ear buds is turned down, and allow ears to recover from noise by taking frequent "quiet" breaks.

2. Does stress make tinnitus worse?

According to research published in Ear and Hearing, the probability of developing tinnitus is approximately the same for highly-stressed people as it is for people exposed to occupational noise.^[1] In the same vein, the British Tinnitus Association reports it's common for tinnitus to manifest during or after periods of high stress and for tinnitus to become worse with stress. Exercise, time in nature, positive thinking, getting quality sleep, and communicating with supportive loved ones and health professionals are all great stress-relief tactics.

3. Can lack of sleep make tinnitus worse?

Get healthy amounts of sleep; too little can trigger tinnitus or make it worse. Most people need about 8 hours per night. Practical sleep tips include: sticking to consistent bedtimes and wake-times, exercising each day, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed, considering a sound machine and perhaps melatonin, and creating soothing, sleep-signaling rituals.

4. Can caffeine, alcohol or nicotine make tinnitus worse?

Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine; each can make ear ringing more noticeable, and can interfere with quality sleep. For more on how what you eat and drink relates to ringing in the ears, see eating for your ears.

5. Can medications or other health conditions make tinnitus worse?

There are a variety of medicines and health situations that can cause or worsen tinnitus and should be ruled out or addressed, as appropriate. Medications linked to tinnitus include certain antibiotics, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cancer drugs, diuretics, and high doses of aspirin. Conditions include head injuries, diabetes, Meniere's disease, hypertension, allergies, excessive ear wax, and jaw issues (TMJ).

If you think another health problem or a medicine you're taking may be causing or worsening your tinnitus, talk to your doctor about it and, of course, never change or halt your medicine routine without input from a qualified health professional.

What about nutritional supplements?

Some tinnitus sufferers may also benefit from a nutritional supplement to support ear health.

For what to expect from a supplement, and how long to give it, see how to set realistic expectations for tinnitus supplements.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.