Tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears, is a symptom of other conditions. Many different things can trigger tinnitus and finding out what is causing yours can be crucial in managing your symptoms.
If you are someone who suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you may be at an increased risk of developing tinnitus.
How GERD Could Increase Tinnitus Risk 
While studies have yet to establish a relationship between GERD and tinnitus definitively, there is research to suggest the two conditions may be connected.
A 2017 study found that people who experience a high frequency of acid reflux symptoms were at a greater risk of hearing loss. This may be due to the fact that severe GERD can expose your middle ear to gastric acid, which, if happens frequently enough, may cause damage to structures in your ear which lead to hearing loss.
A large percentage of people who have hearing loss also suffer from tinnitus, so it would make sense that if GERD increased your hearing loss risk, it would do the same for your risk of tinnitus as well.
Treating GERD
If you experience symptoms of chronic reflux like heartburn, sore throat, chronic cough, postnasal drip others, schedule an appointment with your medical provider. Treating GERD with medications or lifestyle adjustments like changing your diet is essential to minimizing your risk of damage from reflux and may help lower your risk of hearing loss and tinnitus as well.
Managing Your Tinnitus Symptoms
Not everyone who experiences tinnitus needs treatment. For some, the ringing comes and goes infrequently and doesn’t cause any lingering issues. However, others experience more extreme symptoms that can disrupt sleep, make it difficult to focus while at work and even interfere with activities like going out to dinner with your friends at Grant’s Neighborhood Grill.
If your symptoms are diminishing your quality of life, there are several treatment options to make your tinnitus much more manageable. These include:
- Acoustic or sound therapy, which uses white noise or other sounds to mask the ringing in your ears
- Tinnitus retraining therapy
- Hearing aids if your tinnitus is linked to hearing loss
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Medications
- Stress reduction techniques like meditation or deep breathing
If you need help managing your tinnitus and wish to speak with a specialist or schedule an appointment, contact Southwest Idaho ENT today.