Tinnitus, that finicky, ringing or buzzing in your ear, is a fairly common symptom that seems to come and go as it pleases. While the ringing is sometimes random, a few factors have been shown to worsen tinnitus.
With the summer heat beating down on Mobile, let’s look at one of those possible factors: dehydration.
The Impact of Dehydration
Water does a lot for the body, including but not limited to:
- Regulating body temperature
- Protecting organs and tissues
- Moistening the tissues in your eyes, nose and mouth
- Dissolving minerals and nutrients so your body can process them
- Lubricating your joints
- Helping the kidneys and liver process waste
With all that water does to keep you healthy, it’s no wonder dehydration can affect every part of your body, including your ears.
Dehydration can worsen conditions that are known to cause tinnitus1, like high blood pressure and ear infections.[1] For example, high blood pressure is a known risk factor for hearing loss, and the blood pressure spikes or sudden drops caused by dehydration can damage the inner ear.2 Similarly, the inflammation from an ear infection can lead to temporary hearing loss and worsening tinnitus.3
Staying Hydrated This Summer
Alabama gets pretty hot in the summer, so you’ll need to put in an extra effort to stay hydrated. Everybody is different, but you should aim to drink at least eight cups of water, fruit juice or herbal tea each day, more if you’re exercising outside. A headache, dry skin, mouth or lips and worsening tinnitus are all possible signs that you’re dehydrated. Drink a big glass of water and see if your symptoms improve.
If tinnitus is an all-too-present companion, contact Premier Medical Group for expert advice on relieving tinnitus symptoms.
1 Wadhwa, S., Jain, S., & Patil, N. (2024). The Role of Diet and Lifestyle in the Tinnitus Management: A Comprehensive Review. Cureus, 16(4), e59344. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.59344
2 Figueiredo, R. R., Azevedo, A. A., & Penido, N. O. (2016). Positive Association between Tinnitus and Arterial Hypertension. Frontiers in neurology, 7, 171. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2016.00171
3 Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Tinnitus – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-20350156 [mayoclinic.org]