Have you ever wondered why your Tinnitus gets worse sometimes? We’ve come up with a list of 10 most probable reasons why your Tinnitus could be getting worse from time to time. Let’s look at them in detail now.
10 Common Triggers that could make Tinnitus worse
Update- We’ve got an 11th trigger as well. The culprit? Sugar! Read about the sugar and Tinnitus connection here.
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1 Exposure to loud noise
Sudden exposure to loud noises or sounds, especially when it is unexpected, can easily cause Tinnitus to get worse. Not only does it just cause a Tinnitus spike, it is usually how most people end up with Tinnitus in the first place.
It’s very difficult to live a life where you can completely avoid all loud noises. A jackhammer going off when you walk around a block, loud neighbors or someone unexpectedly cranking up the music at a party. These are all events that you will usually have no control over. If you don’t wear ear plugs already, we highly recommend that you read the guide we wrote on buying ear plugs for Tinnitus. It will tell you how to choose and wear ear plugs that can normalize loud sounds, without blocking off or muting sounds completely.
2 Certain types of medication
Some very commonly used medications can cause Tinnitus to get worse. Such medicines are called Ototoxic medicines. This could include medicines such as antibiotics, anti-depressants and even aspirin. Generally, your Tinnitus won’t get worse if you take normal doses of these drugs. But, if you up the dosage, there are chances that they can cause your Tinnitus to worsen. Some less commonly used medications have also been associated with causing a flare up of Tinnitus. These types of medicines include anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroidal) (NSAIDs), chemotherapy drugs and water pills, also known as diuretics.
How Severe is Your Tinnitus?
Find out by using this THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) Scoring Calculator
If you have to take such medicines on a regular basis, please talk to your doctor to see if he can prescribe you alternative medicines that will not trigger your Tinnitus. Please make it a point not to self-prescribe or stop taking any drugs you are prescribed, just because you want your Tinnitus to get better. Always talk to a Doctor first.
3 Lack of Sleep and the Stress and Anxiety Caused
Sleep is when your body rejuvenates. Unfortunately, people suffering from Tinnitus find it very hard to get a good night’s rest. This problem is further exaggerated by the fact that Tinnitus often gets worse at night, when the world gets quieter. Your brain is confused about the lack of incoming sounds and begins to think your ears are malfunctioning more than usual. So, it cranks up the ringing volume to compensate.
You struggle to fall asleep or toss and turn through the night. This will automatically increase your stress and anxiety levels that will further deteriorate your health and your Tinnitus. It’s a vicious cycle that you must break. Please read this blog post we just wrote about melatonin and Tinnitus. Studies have shown that melatonin can help people suffering from a ringing in the ears sleep better, making the condition a lot more tolerable than before.
4 TMJ or Jaw Clenching
A ligament from your jaw joint is connected to ear’s anatomy. Any problems you have with your jaw will therefore possibly affect your Tinnitus. If you clench or grind your teeth, please read this post about Tinnitus and jaw clenching. The condition is known as Bruxism and most people who suffer from this condition don’t know they grind their teeth, because they do it at night.
5 Excess Ear Wax
It’s quite normal to have ear wax. In fact, certain amounts of it is quite essential as it protects the ear canal. But, too much of ear wax can cause changes in ear pressure than can then make Tinnitus come on or become worse.
If you believe you have excessive ear wax, don’t try to clean it out yourself. The last thing you want to do is to dig too deep to perforate the ear drum and cause further problems. DIY ear wax cleaning is particularly dangerous when your ear wax has hardened or is impacted. An ENT doctor will often use a spray to soften the ear wax before attempting to remove it out. They also have high quality equipment that allows them to carefully extract any excess ear wax, without causing any sort of damage to your ear.
6 Common Cold or Allergies
Allergies or a case of the common cold can cause your body’s immune system to produce excess mucus. Excessive mucus production can then fill up your sinus cavities, giving you symptoms like a runny nose or sneezing. This in turn changes the pressure around your ear, potentially causing or worsening Tinnitus.
Thankfully, Tinnitus caused by allergies or a cold will go away after the infection runs its course. If you take antihistamines like Benadryl and are confused about whether that might have caused your Tinnitus to worsen, please read this article about whether Benadryl can cause Tinnitus.
7 High or Low Blood Pressure
Changes in blood pressure can cause your Tinnitus to worsen. This is particularly true when your blood pressure spikes. Changes in blood pressure will change the amount of blood that flows to your ears. The oxygen supply to your ears also fluctuates with changing blood pressure. This can in turn cause Tinnitus to worsen.
8 Alcohol
Alcohol can raise blood pressure which can in turn worsen Tinnitus, as we just mentioned above. This post tells you more about the connection between alcohol and Tinnitus.
9 Cigarette Smoking
Cigarette smoking can definitely make ringing in the ears worse. Studies have shown that many chemicals present in cigarette smoke have the ability to specifically affect the hair like cells in the middle ear. These hair like cells sway to sounds you hear and convert mechanical movement into neuro signals that are then sent to your brain’s auditory cortex. When cigarette smoke kills some of these hair cells, your brain receives less or misfiring signals that can then make your Tinnitus worse.
Cigarette smoking can also constrict blood vessels to not just your ears, but every organ in your body. This increases blood pressure which can then affect your Tinnitus.
Also, the more you smoke, the higher the chances are of your Tinnitus getting worse.
10 Wisdom Teeth Problems
An impacted or infected Wisdom tooth can sometimes cause your facial structure to change. Swelling from your tooth can cause your jaw to shift. This can in turn affect your ears. Learn more about how wisdom teeth can affect your Tinnitus.
11 Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL)
SSHL or sudden deafness can sometimes make an existing condition of Tinnitus much worse. In some cases, it can present Tinnitus as a new symptom as well. And yes, it is possible for someone to be deaf but have to listen to Tinnitus. Tinnitus caused by SHHL is treated with Prednisone and similar steroids. Learn more about the connection between Tinnitus and prednisone here.
