If you have Tinnitus, you might have noticed that it gets worse sometimes. Perhaps after eating. Or, perhaps when you are getting ready for bed? Some people have it worse in the morning. But, why does this fluctuation happen?
Blood pressure seems to have a major role to play with how Tinnitus behaves. To understand this relationship, you need to know more about the ear’s anatomy. The ear relies on blood as its primary source of nutrients. Blood carries oxygen and minerals such as potassium and sodium that are needed for the ear structures to perform. Your inner ear has a fluid which is nourished by blood.
Another blood pressure related aspect about the ears is that blood is brought in through capillaries and not arteries. Arteries are wide blood vessels that feed major organs like the liver, kidneys and brain. But, because of the ear’s position in the body, it is fed through tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Capillary walls are very thin, unlike the walls of veins and arteries. They are not designed to handle high blood pressure. So, when you have a salty meal, consume alcohol or intake a lot of sugar or smoke, your body’s blood pressure increases quite significantly, even if temporarily. Chronic intake of a diet that doesn’t help your blood pressure can increase your base blood pressure as well.
When the capillaries are subject to unpredictable blood pressure levels, they begin to distribute nutrients less effectively. This then causes the ears to malfunction, with Tinnitus being one of the many symptoms apart from hearing loss, fullness of the ears and even vertigo or dizziness.
So, controlling your blood pressure can help you with your Tinnitus. This is especially true if your blood pressure is bordering on high already. Here are things you can do to keep your blood pressure in check.
Reduce your blood pressure and see if your Tinnitus goes away! Here are top signs to look out for, to know when Tinnitus is going away.
Reduce intake of sugar, salt and processed foods – Junk foods or nutritionally poor foods are often very high in sugar, salt and fat levels. They have a direct impact on blood pressure, both in the short and long term.
Stop smoking – Smoking constricts blood vessels. This in turn increases blood pressure as your heart pumps harder to keep pushing blood through the constricted vessels.
Exercise more – Regular exercising helps maintain good heart health. Just 40 minutes of brisk walking a day can tremendously improve heart function and help regularize blood pressure to a certain extent. When you lose weight and achieve ideal BMI levels, your heart function will continue to improve further.
Talk to your doctor about blood thinners – Your doctor can advise you about blood thinners. By thinning your blood, your heart is allowed to work more effectively as there is less resistance to thin blood as opposed to thick blood. But, this is something you shouldn’t self-prescribe. Seek a doctor’s advice to see if you are a potential candidate for blood thinners to regularize your blood pressure.
