If changing weather sets off bells in your ears, you’re not alone. There’s a wealth of evidence that suggests temperature changes and changes in barometric pressure can cause a spike in tinnitus. This raises two questions: Why does long-term, seasonal change in weather wreak so much havoc on our ears? And why do we feel just as much discomfort with even short-term fluctuations in air pressure? While it may not seem to be the case, atmospheric pressure has the potential to make tinnitus symptoms worse because it impacts the overall auditory system and the health of the ears.
How, exactly, do weather and pressure changes worsen tinnitus symptoms? First, let’s take a closer look at how barometric pressure increases and decreases impact the ears.
Changes In Barometric Pressure And Our Ears
Stress on the eardrums is common whenever there are fluctuations in air pressure, like airplane travel, hiking at high altitudes, or scuba diving. The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the throat, and its job is to regulate the pressure in the middle ear. In cases where there is a sudden change in pressure and the eustachian tube within the ear is unable to regulate the pressure properly, it is possible to experience a “barotrauma,” or tissue damage due to changes in pressure which can affect blood flow and other fluids within the body.
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"Treble Health helped me turn down the sound of my tinnitus. Now I can breathe, and get on with my life!"
– Elisa
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Most commonly, barotrauma can manifest as minor ear pain or a sensation that you need your ears to “pop.” Some people describe it as a sensation that their ears are clogged, discomfort in the ears, or describe a slight hearing loss. These sensations are typically temporary, mild, and should correct themselves as pressure normalizes. In rare cases, authors of a 2021 study describe that pressure changes that can cause barotrauma may in fact exacerbate tinnitus due to changes in the cochlear fluids, effectively worsening tinnitus symptoms or making managing tinnitus more difficult.
The Seasonal Toll On Tinnitus
Changes in air pressure via going up into the air or down into the ocean are not the only possible ways to change atmospheric pressure or alter pressure within the ears. In other cases, fluctuations in tinnitus can occur from brief temperature changes. When it comes to increased intensity or frequency of tinnitus that may accompany weather events, barometric pressure is often to blame. Because changes in barometric pressure typically coincide with changing weather, it’s no surprise our ears would be affected. This occurs when cold weather abruptly changes into warm, or when warm abruptly changes into cold weather.
Not all changes in weather are as short-lived as a brief cold front or coming thunderstorm (when barometric pressure is especially hard on your eardrums). Weather-related tinnitus also comes from longer-term weather changes, like the transition from fall to winter. These more sustained transitions are problematic not only due to a spike in barometric pressure, but also because of higher occurrences of infections like colds and the flu, which make us more susceptible to ear infections and tinnitus flare-ups. Cold and dry air do not cause colds or flu, but can make the body more susceptible to these viruses, which can in turn lead to spikes in tinnitus symptoms. Seasonal changes in weather may also lead to seasonal allergies which can also lead to Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, reduced hearing sensation and the possibility of increased tinnitus perception.
From Biology To Behavior
While many of these weather-related external factors are outside our control, temperature-triggered tinnitus can actually be more behavioral than biological. What does this mean? While atmospheric pressure certainly matters, and cold weather can make managing tinnitus difficult, habits in response to these changes can contribute to changes even more than the pressure itself can.
It’s well-established that our habits play an outsized role in tinnitus. People are more likely to be sedentary in winter, for example, which can worsen tinnitus. With a later sunrise and earlier sunset, we’re also more apt to grab an extra cup of coffee in the morning or add a second glass of alcohol at night – both common tinnitus triggers. Add to that increased rates of seasonal anxiety, depression, and reduction in exposure to natural sunlight – all common during winter and key factors in tinnitus – and it’s no wonder we experience more ringing in our ears.
Think of it this way: stress often begets stress, and the additional health frustrations weaken our immune system and compound our susceptibility to anxiety and depression, further exacerbating the ringing. This is true whether we’re trying to tame acute bouts of tinnitus brought on by rapid weather changes or the more chronic cases of tinnitus from changing seasons. Cold and dry air, loud noises, and even earwax buildup can further contribute to symptoms.
Quieting The Hum
If you’re experiencing more frequent or disruptive ringing than normal, there are a few things you can try. There are plenty of factors that can make tinnitus worse, but there are also at-home remedies and lifestyle modifications that can help relieve tinnitus symptoms and relieve some of the burden cold weather, loud noises, atmospheric pressure, and other factors can place on tinnitus symptoms.
First up? Relax! Calming the physical body has real and immediate benefits on stress levels and overall health. From yoga and deep breathing to sound therapy and meditation, relaxation can be a highly effective treatment for tinnitus and a host of other conditions made worse by heightened tension.
Second, pay attention to activities and behaviors that precede a tinnitus flare-up. Did you have more or less sleep than usual, more caffeine or alcohol, or miss a morning workout? Be mindful of dietary changes, too, like excess sodium, which is both a favorite additive in cold weather soups or those salty chips you might grab when trying to “stress eat” the ring away. Salt is directly linked to increased tinnitus because it restricts blood vessels, increases blood pressure, and reduces blood flow to the cochlea–all things that can make tinnitus worse and negatively influence tinnitus symptoms.
Third, warm up! In a 2017 study, warmer temperatures were correlated with lower levels of tinnitus and improved hearing. While we can’t always skip town during a cold snap to soak up the joy of rest and warm weather (though do it if you can!), avoiding unnecessary exposure to cooler, unpleasant climates may help improve symptoms and increase flow to blood vessels.
Finally, chat with your doctor or a mental health provider about cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a tool to manage tinnitus and other health challenges. This is especially helpful for those short-term, “barotraumatic” bouts of ringing. While not a cure, CBT helps take much of the stress and frustration out of the experience by teaching skills to co-exist with discomfort in a way that eases the pain.
Other Treatment Avenues
There are other common treatment methods to address hearing health and tinnitus symptoms in particular. Although not every audiologist or ENT will employ these methods, some more common tinnitus treatments include:
- Sound Therapy. Sound therapy helps reduce the experience of tinnitus symptoms by applying external sounds and drawing the mind away from the sounds of tinnitus.
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). TRT is an effective intervention for tinnitus, as it combines counseling, education, and sound therapy to limit the effects of tinnitus.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. As previously mentioned, CBT can help tinnitus symptoms by improving emotional and mental responses to tinnitus symptoms arising.
- Hearing Aids. Hearing aids can help limit the effect of ringing or buzzing by amplifying your ability to hear, which can be helpful regardless of whether or not you have permanent or temporary hearing loss, and potentially offering a medium through which to receive sound therapy.
- Lifestyle alterations. Persistent tinnitus can come about if you do not protect your ears from loud noises and do not consistently take environmental factors like extreme temperatures into account.
Turn Your Life Around With Treble Health
Maintaining good hearing health is not always a matter of receiving treatment in an office; tinnitus effectively functions as a condition with phantom noise, and cold temperatures and other weather conditions can negatively impact the health of your inner ear. In addition to keeping ears warm in the winter months and cool weather conditions, consider reaching out to our audiological team at Treble Health. Our audiologists recognize the impact tinnitus can have on day to day living, and by reaching out to our team for a complimentary telehealth consultation, you can take 20 minutes out of your day to potentially learn tinnitus management tools, have your questions regarding your condition answered, and understand how to address your unique tinnitus symptoms.
Whether you are experiencing changes to weather conditions, have not been able to protect your ears from loud noise, or you are experiencing persistent ringing without a definable cause, you can enjoy your life without persistent ringing or buzzing. Reach out today to get started on your hearing health journey!
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