8 remedies to help silence tinnitus

Yes, you are hearing things! If it's a ringing, buzzing or roaring sound, you have tinnitus, which strikes one in 20 people.

• One theory links it to hearing loss; because the brain doesn't get enough sound signals from the ear, it creates its own noise (nature hates a vacuum or, it appears, silence) — similar to the way people who've had a limb amputated still feel "phantom" pain.

Most people go on just fine with occasional or even constant ringing, but for some, tinnitus can wreak havoc on their ability to lead normal lives. Whether you've never experienced it or it's just beginning to creep up on you, keep the worst at bay with these recommendations:

One common culprit in tinnitus is noise-related hearing loss, even if the loss isn't severe enough for you to notice.

• Even being in a noisy place like a restaurant can stimulate your hearing system and temporarily make tinnitus louder. 

Putting anything in your ear — including a finger or a Q-tip — can push wax against your eardrum, which can contribute to or worsen tinnitus.

• A better way to clear the wax is to put a drop or two of mineral oil in one ear and lie on the opposite side for an hour while the oil loosens the wax and brings it to the surface. When you turn over, have a napkin handy to catch the wax and oil.

If you're popping the pills frequently for headaches or pain, talk to your doctor about other alternatives.

• Overuse can lead to tinnitus. If you're on daily low-dose aspirin therapy, though, don't worry; the amount isn't great enough to trigger tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a common symptom of temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ), in which the hinge that works the jaw and the muscles and ligaments that support it are stressed or misaligned.

Holding your neck in a hyperextended position, such as when you ride a bicycle, can lead to tinnitus.

• Look in the mirror and ask yourself: is my neck well in front of my shoulders? If the answer is yes, your neck is hyperextended.

More than 200 medications are associated with tinnitus. If you're hearing ringing or buzzing, ask your doctor if one of your meds could be to blame and whether you can lower the dose or switch to another drug.

Some of the worst culprits are those that injure the inner ear, like quinines (used for malaria and rheumatoid arthritis); diuretics (used for high blood pressure); certain antibiotics; and some chemotherapy drugs.

High blood pressure can lead to tinnitus. You're more likely to hear blood whooshing through blood vessels when the pressure of the flow is strong.

• Curb salt intake: sodium can make tinnitus worse by increasing blood pressure. You should also try to keep your cholesterol in check, since narrowed arteries can cause turbulent — and loud — blood flow.

• Depression, anxiety, stress and tinnitus seem to go hand in hand, although no one's sure which is the chicken and which is the egg.

One study found that nearly half of people with disabling tinnitus also had major depression. People with tinnitus who take antidepressants or receive psychotherapy improve more than those who do neither.

Electrodes implanted in the part of the brain responsible for hearing and then electrically stimulated can suppress the phantom noises of tinnitus.

• One study of 12 people who underwent the implants showed a 97 percent reduction in tinnitus.