Health
Tinnitus Treatment, Prevention, Home Remedies And Medicine
Over time, tinnitus seems to be very difficult to be treated. Some people, however, get used to it and notice it less than they did at first. For many people, certain adjustments make the symptoms less bothersome. These tips may help:
Avoid possible irritants: Reduce your exposure to things that may make your tinnitus worse. Common examples include loud noises, caffeine and nicotine.
Cover up the noise: In a quiet setting, a fan, soft music or low-volume radio static may help mask the noise from tinnitus.
Manage stress: Stress can make tinnitus worse. Stress management, whether through relaxation therapy, biofeedback or exercise, may provide some relief.
Reduce your alcohol consumption: Alcohol increases the force of your blood by dilating your blood vessels, causing greater blood flow, especially in the inner ear area.
Alternative medicine
There’s little evidence that alternative medicine treatments work for tinnitus. However, some alternative therapies that have been tried for tinnitus include:
Acupuncture
Hypnosis
Ginkgo biloba
Zinc supplements
B vitamins
Neuromodulation using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a painless, noninvasive therapy that has been successful in reducing tinnitus symptoms for some people. Currently, TMS is utilized more commonly in Europe and in some trials in the U.S. It is still to be determined which patients might benefit from such treatments.
Coping and support
Tinnitus doesn’t always improve or completely go away with treatment. Here are some suggestions to help you cope:
Counseling: A licensed therapist or psychologist can help you learn coping techniques to make tinnitus symptoms less bothersome. Counseling can also help with other problems often linked to tinnitus, including anxiety and depression.
Support groups: Sharing your experience with others who have tinnitus may be helpful. There are tinnitus groups that meet in person, as well as Internet forums. To ensure the information you get in the group is accurate, it’s best to choose a group facilitated by a physician, audiologist or other qualified health professional.
Education: Learning as much as you can about tinnitus and ways to alleviate symptoms can help. And just understanding tinnitus better makes it less bothersome for some people.