The Four Most Common Tinnitus Causes And How To Prevent Them

The Four Most Common Tinnitus Causes And How To Prevent Them
Tinnitus is a condition that leads to a constant ringing, whistling, buzzing or hissing sound in the ears. Although it may sound harmless enough, it can be extremely destructive, causing depression, stress, lack of sleep and even hearing problems. Why risk something that's so preventable? Here's a guide to four of the main tinnitus causes and how you can reduce your chances of developing the condition.

1) Reduce Noise Exposure

Noise exposure is one of the most common tinnitus causes today. Where tinnitus used to be a problem for older people, it's now affecting young people due to exposure from MP3 players, musical instruments, concerts and nightclubs. Ever had that ringing in your ears after a night out? This is a temporary form of tinnitus and shows that your ears have already been damaged.

The best way to prevent tinnitus is to reduce your exposure to noise. Turn down the volume on your MP3 player, and maybe even buy some noise canceling headphones so you can still hear your music clearly even through external noise. When you go to concerts, never stand next to the speakers. It can only take a single exposure to loud noise to cause tinnitus that sticks with you for life.

2) Wear Earplugs

If you still want to expose yourself to noise, don't let it do any more damage than it has to! If you're in a band, or regularly listen to loud music, you really should be protecting yourself with earplugs. Musicians earplugs are designed to maintain the sound quality while reducing the overall noise. But if you want the very best protection then go with custom moulded earplugs. They're very discreet and most people won't even know you're wearing them.

3) Check Your Medication

In some cases tinnitus may be caused by medication. Check any medication you're using for side effects. If tinnitus is one of them, have a talk with your doctor to see whether you can switch to medication that doesn't cause tinnitus (never stop taking medication before first consulting your doctor).

4) Protect Your Head

Another of the top tinnitus causes is head injury, and damage to the nerves that are responsible for hearing. If you partake in any activities that could lead to head injury, such as working in construction or regularly cycling, make sure you wear a helmet to keep yourself protected.

Unfortunately, most people don't take action to prevent the most common tinnitus causes until it's too late. If you're reading this and don't yet have a permanent ringing, take action to prevent it ever happening in future!