Tinnitus is a phantom ringing, roaring, buzzing, humming, hissing or whistling sound in your ears with no external source. When tinnitus flares up or becomes more intense, it is known as a tinnitus spike.
It’s common to experience tinnitus spikes while traveling. There are many contributing factors to this, including stress, lack of sleep, barotrauma and noise exposure. We review how to combat each of these factors below.
Stress
Whether you’re going on vacation to relax and unwind or on your way to visit relatives, traveling can be an extremely stressful experience. No matter the reason for your trip, be sure to practice self-care. This looks different for everybody but may entail taking a nap, going for a walk, meditating, hitting the gym or journaling. Self-care can help you manage stress and minimize tinnitus spikes.
Lack of Sleep
Jet lag is a temporary but still unpleasant side effect of traveling that can cause you to experience sleeplessness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, mood changes, stomach problems and a general feeling of being unwell. It occurs when you travel to a different time zone, which messes with your circadian rhythm. To reset your circadian rhythm, you can try taking a melatonin supplement from the Pharmacy Shop. Note that you shouldn’t try any new supplements without first discussing it with your doctor.
Barotrauma
Barotrauma, also known as airplane ear, occurs when you rapidly change elevation. This can occur during takeoff and landing in a plane or while driving through the mountains. To combat the effects of barotrauma, you can invest in pressure-equalizing earplugs. These work by using special filters to equalize pressure in the ears more gradually.
Noise Exposure
No matter what the purpose of your trip is – whether you attending a concert, going to a sporting event or just touring a new city – you’ll probably encounter some noise exposure, which can cause a tinnitus spike. Noise-cancelling headphones, earmuffs or earplugs can all offer some relief. [Company] offers musician’s earplugs, which dampen loud noises without sacrificing sound quality while letting safe sounds through clearly. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Heuser Hearing Institute today.