The holiday season is a joyous and festive time, but it can also bring stress, fatigue and exposure to loud noise. If you’re one of the millions of Americans affected by tinnitus, you know that stress, fatigue and loud noise can all exacerbate tinnitus.
Holiday Hazards to Tinnitus
Tinnitus can seriously impede your ability to enjoy the festive season, so be on the lookout for these things that can make tinnitus worse:
- Loud noise. Holiday music is playing everywhere, and holiday parties can get raucous. While these make for lovely holiday memories, they can also make tinnitus worse.
- Stress. Stress and emotional state are known to cause and worsen tinnitus. Last-minute shopping, hectic travel plans and busy social calendars can all cause stress. Moreover, for many working Americans, the end of the year brings end-of-year deadlines and crunch times.
- Unhealthy diet. A healthy diet has many effects on the body, including hypertension, weight, cardiovascular health, blood flow, energy levels and emotional well-being—all of which have a relationship with tinnitus.
- Financial pressure. This is related to stress, which we’ve already talked about, but stress caused by financial pressure can certainly make your tinnitus symptoms more severe.
Tinnitus Management Strategies
While you can’t control many things about your environment during the holidays, there are some strategies you can use to mitigate your tinnitus and reduce it:
- Take breaks. If you find yourself in a noisy environment, give your ears a breather to rest and recharge.
- Be deliberate with your time. Find space between responsibilities, parties and socializing to give yourself a break. Find some alone time to engage in your favorite de-stressing activities, such as reading a book or being outdoors.
- Stick to a budget. This can be difficult, but any attempt to take charge of your finances—especially during the holiday season—will help you feel more in control and reduce stress.
- Use stress-reducing strategies. Attempting to push through stress and anxiety will only make the problem worse.
- Tinnitus sound masking. Sound masking is a sound therapy that uses white noise or ambient sound to cover up, or mask, tinnitus. Putting in headphones and listening to specialized tinnitus masking sounds will counteract tinnitus.
When to Seek Professional Help
If your tinnitus is frequent and disruptive and keeping you from enjoying the reason for the season, it’s time to seek professional help for management options. Call Audiology Associates of Redding today to learn more, just in time for the holidays.