Does Alcohol Impact Your Tinnitus?

Yes, drinking can cause your tinnitus to sound different — it might be louder or quieter.

According to Dr. Julie Prutsman at Sound Relief Hearing Center, "drinking alcohol of any kind, whether it’s wine, beer, or liquor, can worsen tinnitus.

This is because "drinking alcohol causes your blood vessels to relax and expand," she explains. "When this occurs, blood flow increases throughout the body, including your ears, which can make your tinnitus worse. While alcohol-induced tinnitus is generally short-lived, excessive drinking over a long period of time can result in a permanent form of this hearing condition."

Audiologist Ben Thompson puts it this way: "Alcohol is known to raise blood pressure which may temporarily increase perception of tinnitus. While this is usually temporary with light to moderate alcohol consumption, increased blood pressure can lead to changes to circulation in the inner ear."

According to American Addiction Centers, "there is debate about whether or not alcohol directly causes tinnitus, but it almost certainly can exacerbate the problem. Many of those who abuse alcohol will need to deal with the symptoms of this condition. Some individuals attempt to self-medicate with alcohol, to deal with tinnitus, and this can lead to hazardous drinking."

People who are going through alcohol withdrawal may also experience tinnitus, so self-medicating with alcohol — while understandable when the noise in your head is unbearable — is certainly not encouraged.

There are even types of alcohol that are known to trigger or worsen tinnitus symptoms. These include "red wine, grain-based spirits such as rum and beer, cider, sherry and brandy." This is because they "all contain high to very high levels of salicylates," according to South Valley Ear, Nose & Throat, which are naturally occurring chemicals present in many fruits and vegetables.

Like everything with tinnitus, the impact alcohol has on it varies with the individual. Some people find moderate drinking helps them cope with their tinnitus, while others find that just one drink can increase the noise.

Theories abound as to why drinking helps or doesn't.

For those who can have a glass or two without problem, it's possible that they relax to such an extent they can get their mind off the noise.

For those who notice their tinnitus worsens, it may be because drinking causes your blood vessels to constrict, which increases your blood pressure, making the sounds in your head more noticeable. It should be noted that prolonged drinking over time causes sustained high blood pressure.

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