How to Treat Pulsatile Tinnitus

Ringing in the ears is a common medical condition called tinnitus. When the ringing, buzzing, roaring or hissing beats are in time with your heartbeat, the condition is called pulsatile tinnitus. Tinnitus can be caused by many things and is usually not serious, but it can be difficult to treat.

Instructions

• 1

  See your physician to determine the cause of your pulsatile tinnitus. Some causes of tinnitus include natural hearing loss in older adults, exposure to loud noises, excessive ear wax and stiffening of the bones in the ear. If your doctor can determine a cause for your tinnitus, he might be able to relieve it.

• 2

  Remove ear wax impacted in the ear canal to help alleviate pulsatile tinnitus. There are some over-the-counter products to get rid of earwax, but you will have the best results if you have a physician remove it.

• 3

  Relieve symptoms of tinnitus by suppressing noises. Buy a white noise machine or an environmental sound machine to play soothing sounds that can block out the tinnitus. There also are special hearing aids that block out unwanted noise and can reduce symptoms of tinnitus.

• 4

  Ask your physician if taking tricyclic antidepressants might help your condition. Your doctor might prescribe one of these drugs on a trial basis to see if it eases your tinnitus symptoms. However, these drugs can have side effects, including drowsiness, dry mouth and nausea. Discontinue use if you develop severe symptoms and alert your physician.

• 5

  Eliminate possible irritants in your environment. Loud noises and nicotine might make pulsatile tinnitus worse. It might help to avoid events where loud noise is likely, such as firework displays and music concerts. Also, avoid secondhand smoke.

• 6

  Lower your stress level to reduce the effects of tinnitus. Many patients claim their pulsatile tinnitus worsens when they are under much stress. Exercise, get enough sleep and try to avoid stressful activities in order to reduce the worry that can be aggravating your condition.

• 7

  Schedule an acupuncture session to help alleviate your problem. This alternative method of healing might be successful in reducing your symptoms. Look for an acupuncturist who is experienced in treating tinnitus.