The medical term for ringing in the ears is tinnitus. Tinnitis is a common experience and it is normal if it is infrequent and lasts only a few minutes. It can interfere with your life if it occurs repeatedly or is constant. According to Medline Plus, It can sound like "ringing, blowing, roaring, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling, or sizzling....air escaping, water running, the inside of a seashell, or musical notes."
Causes
Tinnitus can be caused by wax in the ears, foreign objects, ear infections, injury from loud noises, alcohol, caffeine, antibiotics, aspirin or other drugs. It can also be a sign of high blood pressure, anemia or allergies.
Care
You can mask the noise, making it more tolerable, by using a white noise device, low music, a ticking clock or any competing sound.
Considerations
Stress worsens tinnitus and learning to relax is important for sufferers. Caffeine, alcohol and smoking also aggravate the symptoms. At night, propping up your head on a pillow can lessen head congestion and lessen the ringing sounds.
Seek advice
If your tinnitus began after a blow to the head, seek immediate medical advice. You should also call your doctor if you have other symptoms like dizziness, nausea vomiting or feel off balance. If self help methods described above don't work, you should visit your physician.
Treatment
If you have an ear wax problem, your doctor can remove it and the ringing in the ears may stop. Tinnitus caused by high blood pressure will stop when your blood pressure is under control. There are medications available but they treat the underlying cause and so won't universally work for everyone.
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