Tinnitus, like many conditions, can be prevented or held at bay by making sure you take an extra moment or two to protect yourself.

     The most common cause of tinnitus is believed to be exposure to high noise levels. For some this may mean being in a loud environment for many years before symptoms begin, but for others a one time high-decibel blast may irreversibly damage the hearing function.

  Thus, limit or avoid exposure to loud noises, such as music, power tools, gunshots, and industrial machinery and be sure to wear protective earplugs or earmuffs if you cannot avoid loud noises. Also 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 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.

   It is suggested that regular exercise may prevent tinnitus because it improves blood flow to the structures of the ear, flushing away the free radicals and oxygenates the area, making it function in a healthier manner. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important for prevention of tinnitus as studies show it occurs more frequently in obese adults.

   In cases of mild ringing of the ears cutting back on drinking alcohol and beverages containing caffeine as well as using tobacco products may be beneficial to stopping the symptoms. Nicotine and alcohol use may cause tinnitus by reducing blood flow to the structures of the ear, whereas caffeine may over-excite the nerves, causing the buzzing sound. A more in depth discussion concerning these sorts of lifestyle changes for the reduction of the buzzing/ringing symptoms will be posted in the future.