Prevention

In many cases, tinnitus is the result of something that can’t be prevented. However, taking care of your health can help prevent certain kinds of tinnitus.

• Use hearing protection. Over time, exposure to loud noise can damage the nerves in the ears, causing hearing loss and tinnitus. If you use chainsaws, work in an industry that uses loud machinery or use firearms (especially pistols or shotguns), always wear over-the-ear hearing protection.
• Protect your ears from loud music. Long-term exposure to amplified music with no ear protection or listening to music at very high volume though headphones — when using an MP3 player, for example — can cause hearing loss and tinnitus.
• Take care of your cardiovascular health. Regular exercise, eating right and taking other steps to keep your blood vessels healthy can help prevent tinnitus linked to blood vessel disorders.