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Tinnitus Ear Exam

Things to Avoid If You Have Tinnitus

If you've been diagnosed with tinnitus, then it's likely there are times when it can feel unbearable. However, you do have control over your environment and the things that you do. We will share with you some of our best tips for helping reduce your tinnitus symptoms so that you can feel more in control of your life.

Loud Noises

Loud noise is one of the biggest culprits that spur tinnitus symptoms to worsen. Traffic, concerts, construction and even lawn mowing can irritate your tinnitus. Fortunately, you can be proactive in helping to reduce your body's exposure to loud noise. When you can avoid being around it, simply do so. If you can't, use hearing protection to prevent loud noises from entering your ear canal. Earmuffs, earplugs, and noise-canceling headphones are all great options.

Certain Medications

While it can be fairly easy to determine components that will make your tinnitus worse, such as loud environments, there are some culprits that you may not even think about. One of the most underrated causes of tinnitus is medication use. Certain medications have been shown to worsen symptoms in those with tinnitus. Most commonly used are NSAIDS, antibiotics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, loop diuretics, and antidepressants.

Specific Foods

Another factor that can worsen your tinnitus is the foods that you eat. Specific foods have been shown to worsen tinnitus symptoms in patients. The four main types of foods that you should avoid if you suffer from tinnitus include salty meals, fatty foods, processed sugar, and flavor enhancers like MSG. It can be helpful to keep a food diary to recall what you ate when your tinnitus symptoms worsen. This will allow you to identify those foods and avoid them going into the future to minimize your tinnitus symptoms.

Seeking Treatment

It's important to realize that it's common for people to experience temporary tinnitus occasionally. If you were just exposed to a loud noise, such as a rock concert, your ears might experience tinnitus for several hours afterward. If this only happens once and you can identify the culprit that caused the tinnitus, then there's typically nothing to worry about.

However, if you start noticing that you're experiencing tinnitus consistently and it lasts for an extended period, then it's time to seek professional help. A licensed audiologist will be able to evaluate your symptoms and provide you with a proper diagnosis. In addition, they'll be able to help you find the right tactics for helping to control this symptom and better manage your life.

Call Us Today

If you're struggling with tinnitus, then it's time to contact us at Beltone Dallas Fort Worth. Let our helpful hearing care specialists assess your situation and provide the best treatment recommendations to meet your unique hearing care needs.

Resources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350162