You are sitting in your office, working on an email to a coworker. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a piercing ringing sounds in your ear. You stick a finger in, wiggle it around, trying to make it stop. Unfortunately, it continues for hours, distracting you and making it hard to finish the work you need.
Tinnitus is a frustrating, serious problem for nearly 50 million Americans. On those, more than 20 million have a chronic condition that causes symptoms to flare up on a regular basis.

The Types of Tinnitus

There are two kinds of tinnitus people suffer from. The first is called subjective tinnitus, which is a sound that only the sufferer can hear, originating in the head or ear itself. It is often caused by damage to the ear or hearing loss but may have other factors.

Second is objective tinnitus, a form that can be audibly witnessed by other people. It is often caused by some noise happening inside of the head, ear or body, such as a bodily function. That sound is enhanced and projected into the ears, causing ringing, static-like sounds, drumming, pounding or other disturbances.

Both forms of tinnitus can worsen symptoms of hearing loss and make it difficult to live a normal life.

Treating Tinnitus

Many tinnitus sufferers have used white noise as a way to get around their symptoms, particularly at night. But some studies are showing that white noise can actually make things worse.

So how do you care for your tinnitus and protect your hearing from further disruption? Sadly, there is no cure for the condition as of yet. However, there are some ways you can take care of your ears and make the problem more bearable.

    Stay away from loud noises and events. Going to concerts or too loud action movies is a lot of fun, but they can be murder on the ears and certainly make tinnitus worse. If you do attend a loud event, bring approved earplugs meant to properly filter sound.
    Get enough sleep. Many studies have noted that lack of sleep is a common contributor to tinnitus symptoms, though we are unsure of why. Get in your eight hours every night.
    Never stick unapproved objects in your ears. We have all taken a q-tip to the ear before, but we shouldn’t. Sticking anything in the ear is a risk of rupture.
    Keep up to date on new treatments. If you stay in regular contact with your hearing doctor, you will be sure to hear about the latest tinnitus information. Be sure you are getting regular checkups and discussing the latest treatment options with your audiologist.

So, while there are no cures for tinnitus at this time, by doing these things, you can ease your tinnitus symptoms and have a better quality of life.

Author's Bio: 

Karen is a freelance writer from Utah and often writes about all things related to health, well-being, & home life. She has previous experience as a dental hygienist and currently works in the audiology industry. She hopes to offer information that helps others make simple steps to improve their overall health. As a mother of two, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family when she isn’t writing.