You’ve just completed an intense fitness session. You feel sweaty but content, until it starts: a ringing in your ears. Whether it’s a brief annoyance or an ongoing annoyance, you want the exercise-induced whine to go away. You’ll also want to know if this is a sign that you need to call an audiologist for a hearing test.
Fortunately, ringing in the ears (aka ringing in the ears) is not an unusual phenomenon, especially after exercise. This does not necessarily mean you will develop hearing problems. as National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Explains that up to a quarter of adults may experience tinnitus, so you’re not alone. That being said, you should always take any recurring tinnitus seriously.
Although not all cases of tinnitus are chronic or require medical intervention, any occurrence of tinnitus should be monitored and evaluated. This includes tinnitus after exercise. With some home experiments, you may be able to find out the exact cause of your hearing problems. At that time, you can make changes to reduce the likelihood of future problems. If that doesn’t work, you can always see an audiologist to rule out more serious problems or conditions, such as Meniere’s disease or lupus, both of which have tinnitus as a side effect. Online MD.
Turn down the volume when you have tinnitus
One of the causes of post-workout tinnitus has to do with a behavior you can immediately address: playing music too loudly through your earbuds. It can be very tempting to play your favorite Spotify song, especially if you’re motivated by the beat or the lyrics. However, the louder the music, the more damage it causes to the ears.
The inner ear is a sensitive instrument that many people take for granted. according to cleveland clinicMore than a billion teens and adults play audio too loudly, increasing the risk of permanent ear damage. Audiologist Dr. Sarah Sydlowski warns against assuming that tinnitus subsides is anything less than serious. "The damage is permanent," she said. "It may not show up on a hearing test, but the damage will show up in your ability to process sound, especially in a noisy environment." Whenever the ear is forced to deal with loud sounds of harsh or sustained intensity, More damage occurs—and the cumulative effect can eventually lead to hearing loss.
If you have recurring tinnitus, buzzing, or whining after exercise, it’s not a bad idea to try turning down your music. Or, you might need to wear ear protection, just like your group fitness instructor who turns up the volume during class.
Clear the air before lifting weights
Tinnitus still not getting better despite lowering the music volume? You may need to clean your ears, especially before lifting weights. As noted in a 2023 report study In the Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, heavyweight and light weightlifters tend to hold their breath while exercising, an action that puts pressure on the inner ear. Between 35 and 70 percent of weightlifters surveyed said they experienced tinnitus after weight training, possibly due to their breathing techniques.
Knowing this, you can try to relieve inner ear pressure before and during weightlifting activities. To safely relieve ear pressure and subsequently reduce the likelihood of tinnitus after lifting weights, Medical News Today Chewing gum (which moves the jaw and helps clear pressure from the ears), yawning, or, if all else fails, the Valsalva maneuver is recommended. This involves pinching your nose, closing your mouth, and breathing gently through your closed nasal passages and lips. After a few seconds, allow yourself to breathe normally. When performed with minimal force, the Valsalva maneuver can effectively clean your ears. However, the movements should be very gentle to avoid the risk of exerting too much force on the body.
Work on your body, not your ears
There are many other steps you can take to protect your ears. First, wear sound-isolating equipment, such as earplugs or a noise-canceling helmet, when you know you will be exposed to loud noise. this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention If the noise around you exceeds 85 decibels (eg from tractors, many power tools or firecrackers), it is recommended to protect your ears.
Next, consider the type of earbuds or headphones you choose. Online MD Over-the-ear earbuds are recommended to provide cushioning between the actual audio output and your ears. As a result, you can listen to music at lower volumes and further reduce noise exposure.
Finally, avoid inserting cotton swabs into your ears to clean them. If your ears are clogged because they are unable to clean themselves, make an appointment with your doctor for an ear cleaning. Your doctor will have the right tools and techniques to remove earwax without irritating or damaging the inner ear area.