Are you afraid of a constant ringing, rhythmic beat or a whooshing sound in your ears during pregnancy, well it may be a sign of tinnitus.
Tinnitus is the most common ear complaint during pregnancy. It affects 1 in 3 women worldwide. Hormonal dysfunction and iron deficiency are the major tinnitus causes during pregnancy. This condition can be temporary or chronic. Tinnitus generally disappears after pregnancy.
In this article, we will explain to you the causes and cures of tinnitus and how to manage it.
Muffled hearing during pregnancy also known as tinnitus is a common phenomenon. Tinnitus is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying problem. According to studies, 33% of women suffer from pulsatile tinnitus. It is the sound of a rhythmic noise like a whooshing sound.
Pulsatile tinnitus can increase anxiety and contribute to depression. Tinnitus occurs during early pregnancy and continues till delivery. Tinnitus during the first trimester of pregnancy is very irritating and causes anxiety. It affects the quality of life of an expectant mother. Pregnant women suffering from tinnitus find it hard to work and socialize.
Tinnitus generally occurs due to iron deficiency. Hormonal imbalance, stress, and high blood pressure are the major pulsatile tinnitus causes. Taking a lot of stress can cause ear fullness during pregnancy. Pre-existing tinnitus can also cause tinnitus in later pregnancies. Preeclampsia, a disease caused due to high blood pressure during pregnancy can show symptoms of tinnitus.
Tinnitus is commonly a ringing in your ears. Tinnitus early pregnancy symptoms may include a buzz, screeching, whistling, tinkling, or a pulsing sound to the tune of your heartbeat.
If a specific cause is found for pulsatile tinnitus, doctors can treat the underlying condition. Anaemia can be treated with medications. Women suffering from tinnitus can use these therapies to get relief:
Sound therapy– Sound therapy is the use of any sound to reduce a person’s awareness of tinnitus. To treat Tinnitus women should listen to their favourite music during pregnancy.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy– This aims to change the way women react to their tinnitus rather than removing the actual sound.
Various factors may lead to Tinnitus during pregnancy. Here are some tips to manage tinnitus early pregnancy symptoms.
Fatigues and restlessness during pregnancy lead to stress and anxiety. Stress causes tinnitus symptoms to develop. Thus, it is very important to manage stress levels during pregnancy. Get enough sleep to reduce stress. Make your bedroom dark and cool. Try to sleep at least 7 to9 hours a day. Try fun activities which give you pleasure.
Living a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and exercise may help ward off tinnitus. Exercise at least three to five times a week. Take a diet rich in iron and zinc, as they help to relieve the symptoms of Tinnitus. Avoiding sugar, excessive amounts of salt and alcohol will also reduce the ringing. Smoking acts as a stimulant and restrains blood flow. It can worsen tinnitus symptoms. Quit smoking to get relief from tinnitus.
Try meditation and yoga to relieve anxiety and feel rejuvenated. It helps in controlling blood pressure levels also. High blood pressure is one of the major causes of tinnitus. Meditation with white noise in the background can relieve tense muscle, headaches, and depression.
Loud noise may aggravate the tinnitus symptoms. Try and avoid all kinds of loud noise during pregnancy. Silence can equally cause tinnitus symptoms to get worse. Thus, try to stay around sound neutral places. Try on playing some music, or using a white noise machine.
In extreme tinnitus cases, you can wear an ear device or a hearing aid. It cancels out the sound in the affected areas. Talk to your doctor about a good hearing aid for tinnitus treatment.
A point to remember: Zinc supplements help to reduce the symptoms of Tinnitus. You must consult a doctor before taking any supplements during pregnancy..- HERA
If you notice tinnitus symptoms after pregnancy, then you must consult a doctor. It’s better to see an ENT specialist. Tell an ENT specialist if have any history of tinnitus in earlier pregnancies. The doctor may suggest some hearing aids to cancel the noise of some therapies for tinnitus cure.
During pregnancy, many women hear a ringing or hissing sound in the ears. This ringing sound is called Tinnitus. Tinnitus is very common during pregnancy and mostly goes away after delivery. Tinnitus cure is not available because it is not a disease but a sign of an underlying condition. Tinnitus can be managed by reducing stress and avoiding certain foods. If tinnitus persists even after pregnancy you must see a hearing specialist.