Almost everyone experiences ringing in their ears occasionally, but that ringing sound usually goes away within a few minutes, according to the Langone Medical Center. However, if you have persistent ringing in your ears, you may suffer from tinnitus. Several conditions, including wax buildup, hearing loss, allergies and ear infections, along with more serious conditions such as strokes, can cause tinnitus. Fortunately, you may be able to prevent tinnitus, even if you're prone to it, by taking a few simple precautions.
Step 1
Buy ear plugs and use them whenever you're in a noisy situation, such as when attending a loud sporting event or traveling on an airplane. According to the Langone Medical Center, continual or frequent exposure to loud noises can lead to tinnitus, and protecting your ear drums may help prevent the damage that causes the disorder.
Step 2
Wear construction-grade ear muff-style ear protection when you're doing something extremely loud, such as using power tools or mowing the lawn. According to the University of Michigan Health System, professional-grade ear protection can also help you if you're using a gun in a target range, or if you're performing some other equally loud activity.
Step 3
Exercise extreme caution when using headphones or ear buds to listen to music, since loud music delivered directly into the ear canal easily can damage your ear drums, according to the University of Michigan Health System. If others in your immediate area can hear the music from your headphones, it's too loud.
Step 4
Exercise regularly. Exercise can improve the blood flow to your ears and potentially prevent tinnitus from developing, according to the University of Michigan Health System. And if you smoke or use tobacco, quit -- tobacco can interfere with that blood flow, potentially causing tinnitus.
Tips and Warnings
- Some drugs can cause tinnitus -- if you've recently started a new medication, talk to your physician about whether it might be causing your hearing problems.
Things You'll Need
- Ear plugs
- Ear muffs designed for construction workers
