(HealthDay News) -- Many people experience tinnitus (ringing in the ears) temporarily or intermittently, but some suffer from it all the time.
Repeated exposure to loud noises can cause tinnitus, not to mention that it could have a cumulative, damaging effect on your hearing.
What can you do to protect yourself against this annoying and potentially debilitating condition? The American Tinnitus Association suggests you first protect your hearing -- both at work and at play.
At work, make sure your employer meets regulations by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which mandate that workplaces with excessive noise must protect workers by implementing an effective hearing conservation program. In practice, wear your earplugs or earmuffs, limit the amount of time you spend in noisy environments, and follow hearing conservation guidelines established by your employer.
Recreational noise also has an impact on your hearing. The next time you are around noise that bothers you, for example, at a sporting event, concert or while hunting -- wear hearing protection. This can reduce noise levels 15 to 20 decibels. For extremely loud situations, earmuffs over earplugs might be necessary.
