Stuffed ear: the main reasons, what to do, in which cases to consult a doctor

One of the common causes of blocked ears is associated with the formation of wax plugs. In this case, you need to rinse the ear canals with powerful pressure of a 0.9% salt solution or clean water. If congestion is accompanied by other symptoms (pain, discharge), you will need to consult a doctor.

Blocked ears: reasons

If ear congestion was not caused by serious health problems, then the discomfort will soon go away on its own. In some cases, the situation may indicate the presence of certain pathologies.

The most popular factors for ear congestion are as follows:

1. ARVI or influenza may be to blame. This is due to the connection between the ENT organs: the pathological process prevents the passage of air during a cold, which can lead to short-term congestion in the ears. As soon as the condition improves and the disease goes away, hearing will appear
2. Discomfort can occur as a result of strong pressure in the environment. This phenomenon is almost always felt when flying, immersing in water or staying in the subway. Sometimes even a slight descent down the stairs can contribute to ear congestion.
3. Clogging of the hearing organs with wax can lead to deterioration in their functioning.
4. Ears often become clogged with high blood pressure when the patient suffers from hypertension. This is explained by vasospasm. In addition to the main symptom, severe dizziness may also be felt.
5. A popular problem can manifest itself against the background of a foreign body being inside the organ.
6. Water entering the hearing organs leads to such a short-term effect
7. Some pharmaceutical drugs have similar side effects. If this happens to you, read the instructions in detail. Ideally, this should be done before taking the medication.
8. If the ear function is impaired, the sound may be somewhat muffled
9. A common cause of ear congestion is a deviated nasal septum.
10. Discomfort often manifests itself in diseases such as otitis media, allergic reactions, tumors in the brain, etc.

If your ears are blocked, you need to think about what could cause such a reaction. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate. This sign serves as a compelling argument for visiting an otolaryngologist’s office.

How to distinguish normal congestion from disease?

Short-term congestion and tinnitus may appear during a cold, but they most often go away on their own after other symptoms have resolved. However, there are infectious diseases that occur directly in the auditory tube or middle ear. You can understand that additional treatment for ear congestion is necessary by the following signs:

• cold symptoms go away, but ears still bother you,
• Ear congestion persists for a long time and is accompanied by pain,
• Changing positions and slow exhalations of air do not help,
• there is a decrease in hearing acuity,
• discharge appears from the ear canal,
• congestion is accompanied by dizziness.

Diagnostic methods and symptoms

In otolaryngology, there are many diseases that cause blocked ears. All the main reasons are listed above. How does a person feel when this problem arises? Often patients complain that the ear is blocked and noisy; headaches and confusion are also possible. It is possible to correctly identify the factor causing discomfort only during an examination at an appointment with an ENT specialist. In some cases, patients are sent for special diagnostic tests.

Regardless of the root cause, it is very important to be fully examined and not let the situation get worse. Otherwise, unpleasant consequences may manifest themselves.

The causes of ear congestion are:

• a) natural,
• c) pathological.

Natural causes of blocked ears include environmental influences that go away on their own and do not require medical intervention; as a rule, they do not cause pain:

• some exercises during intense physical activity;
• sudden changes in external pressure (airplane takeoff and landing, elevator rides, rides, climbing mountains, diving);
• accumulation of sulfur as a result of its increased secretion;
• weather change;
• a foreign body in the ear (in this case, you need to contact a specialist so as not to harm yourself by independent actions);
• pregnancy (congestion appears in one or both ears as a result of increased pressure, hormonal imbalance, due to obesity).

What to do if your ear is blocked?

If suddenly your hearing function has decreased, or you have a feeling of congestion, then you need to take the following actions:

1. Try playing a yawn with your mouth open
2. Hold your breath for a couple of seconds
3. Press your hands on your ears several times
4. Take some candy or chewing gum and drink some water

If such simple steps do not help restore your hearing, then be sure to consult a doctor.

How to get rid of ear congestion?

In a healthy person, the unpleasant feeling of congestion goes away quickly. In order for your hearing to return to normal, it is enough to drink water, suck a lollipop or chew gum. There is a special exercise that helps increase pressure in the middle ear:

• take a deep breath,
• pinch your nose with your fingers and close your mouth,
• exhale slowly.

If you hear a slight pop in your ear, there is no reason to panic: the eardrum has returned to its normal position. Sometimes the exercise needs to be repeated several times. However, it can only help if there is no infectious process in the ears, which has become the main cause of the problem.

What to do if your ear is blocked after swimming

Absolutely everyone is familiar with this phenomenon. Don't panic if this happens.

Take measures to make the water go away:

• place one ear that has lost hearing to your shoulder and start jumping on your leg
• With your hands, ears pressed, say loudly: A
• lie on the heating pad on the painful side and wait until the fluid comes out
• Place the cotton swab carefully, after a while the water will be absorbed into it

After your condition improves, it is still important to see an ENT specialist so that he can prescribe you special anti-inflammatory drugs.

Application of Remo Wax for traffic jams

To remove excess sulfur, special drops are used, for example, Remo Vax. This product quickly dissolves contaminants, softens irritated membranes of the ear canal, having a calming effect on them.

A child less than a year old can be treated for wax accumulation with Remo Vax. Can be used by nursing and pregnant women. Suitable for older people. The following algorithm of actions is observed:

1. Before use, you must lie on your side. A thick cloth napkin is immediately placed on the bottom of the pillow.
2. The product should be at room temperature.
3. Gently pour along the wall of the ear canal so that the medicine fills it completely.
4. After 10 minutes they turn over. Allow the darkened product to flow onto a specially pre-placed napkin.
5. If necessary, repeat on the other side.

Such sessions are performed no more than once every 14 days. If it is necessary to remove a dense sulfur plug, then increase the duration of exposure of the drug to 30 minutes. There is no need to rinse or clean the ear canals so as not to reduce the therapeutic effect of the drug.

Foreign body in the ear

This usually happens by accident when cleaning the ears, when objects for which they are not intended are used - a match and cotton wool wrapped around it. A part of such a structure can easily break off and end up in a hard-to-reach place. Unfortunately, doctors are faced with episodes where insects crawl into the ears.

Whatever the foreign object, only professionals can get it. Otherwise, your eardrums may be seriously damaged. Certified specialists know how to deal with this problem and will do everything quickly, and most importantly, without consequences.

Treatment of ear diseases

When the underlying condition has been treated, and the congestion and noise in the ears does not go away, the doctor will conduct an additional examination of the hearing aid. These are visual examination and special instrumental diagnostic methods. Depending on the cause of the pathology, medications and treatment procedures will be prescribed. After completing a therapeutic course, in most cases, ear congestion goes away without consequences for the patient. A timely visit to a specialist will help prevent complications.

You can consult about the causes of ear congestion and make an appointment with a specialist by calling our clinic or using the form on the website.

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Other causes and treatment if the ear is blocked

If your ear is blocked due to allergies, it is important to eliminate the root cause, that is, get rid of the irritating factor. Antihistamines are used to relieve swelling.

For otitis media, an otolaryngologist will develop effective treatment tactics. The doctor will also be able to determine the curvature of the nasal septum and any other defects during consultation. If necessary, a decision will be made on surgical intervention.

When there are changes in blood pressure, it is important to stabilize the condition. Pathologies of the temporomandibular zone are treated within the walls of the dental clinic.

Causes of ear congestion due to a cold:

• when you have a runny nose, the nasal mucosa swells, this can cause narrowing or blockage of the Eustachian tube, which can subsequently lead to inflammation of the middle ear;
• a similar situation occurs with inflammatory processes in the throat;
• Blowing your nose incorrectly leads to mucus being thrown into the ear (you need to blow your nose in each nostril separately), which can cause inflammation.

Headache, nausea, ear pain, fever indicate that the inflammatory process has already begun. In these cases, you cannot carry out treatment yourself - this can lead to impaired or complete hearing loss.

You should immediately contact an ENT doctor and receive qualified treatment!

If this is a temporary physiological cause, then when the underlying disease is cured, it should go away.

At home, with ear congestion and a cold, the following will help:

• massage of the nose and ear area;
• exercises to equalize the pressure between the middle ear and the Eustachian tube (active chewing movements, yawning, inflating rubber balloons, blowing through a narrow tube);
• hot baths with mustard for the feet (afterwards put on warm socks);
• impact on biologically active points of the foot: pour dry mustard into socks and put them on at night.
• It is undesirable to use compresses or drops without consulting a specialist, because incorrect actions can only cause harm and aggravate the course of the disease.

Treatment at home

Ear congestion often goes away within a few days if effective treatment measures are used. Additionally, you should not go outside without a hat, you must promptly remove water from your ears after taking a shower, and also treat the disease that led to the unpleasant symptom.

Warmer

This remedy helps get rid of congestion syndrome in the ear if the disease is caused by a runny nose, neuritis or non-suppurative otitis media. When exposed to heat, sulfur plugs are softened and removed, and blood circulation processes are normalized. To install the heating pad, simply fill the container with heated liquid and place it next to your ear. Keep the heating pad for 15-20 minutes until the liquid cools down. Carry out the procedure daily for 2-3 days.

Balsam “Star” and glycerin

To carry out treatment, it is necessary to mix these components in equal proportions. Place a few drops in each ear, then cover the ear canals with cotton wool. Use a heating pad to increase the positive effect. Patients usually notice a positive effect after the first session. Carry out the procedure once a day for a week.

Hydrogen peroxide

This substance allows you to get rid of not only congestion, but also pain. You can also use peroxide to remove large amounts of sulfur buildup.

To perform rinsing, follow these steps:

1. Take water and peroxide. Mix these ingredients in equal proportions.
2. Using a pipette, drop the solution into the ear where you feel swelling. It will take 10-15 drops. Wait 5 minutes.
3. After instillation, move to a horizontal position, turn on your side so that the solution does not leak out.
4. After 5 minutes, remove the liquid and perform the procedure again.

On a note!
Before instillation, it is necessary to warm the solution to room temperature. To hasten the moment of recovery, you should use the medicine 2-3 times a day for a week.

Egg

Inflammatory processes can be eliminated by heating with a warm egg. As a result, you can speed up blood circulation, eliminate swelling, and completely eliminate the infection. To carry out the procedure, you will need one boiled egg. Once you have it ready, wrap the egg in a towel and place it on your sore ear. Wait 10-20 minutes. It is advisable to repeat the procedure several times a day. Be sure to warm up before going to bed. Carry out the procedures for 3-4 days.

If you experience unpleasant sensations as a result of pathologies in the structure of the nervous tissue, it is necessary to warm up not only the ear, but also other areas where unpleasant sensations occur. It is advisable to consult a doctor before warming up to exclude the presence of purulent inflammation.

On a note!
Warming should not be performed for purulent otitis media, tonsillitis, or chronic sinusitis in the acute stage.

Olive oil

If you experience ear congestion due to a runny nose and other cold symptoms, you can relieve the discomfort with olive oil. Heat this ingredient to a temperature convenient for you, drop it into your ear, then cover the hole with a small piece of cotton wool. Cover this area with polyethylene, preferably wrap your head with a scarf or towel. The compress is applied for 30 minutes. To obtain a positive effect, it is advisable to carry out the procedure 3 times a day. This remedy can be combined with almost any other folk remedies. Do the procedures for 3-5 days.

On a note!
After installing the compressor, you should not go outside for an hour.

Apple cider vinegar and alcohol

Mix these components in a 1:1 ratio. As a result, you will receive effective drops that will soften the eardrum, eliminate the infection, and also prevent relapses of the disease. Use 3 drops 2-3 times a day. Carry out the procedures for 5-7 days.

Inhalations

When carrying out these procedures, you can get rid of not only congestion in the ear, but also remove a runny nose and inflammatory reactions. An inhaler can be used to carry out the procedures. If you do not have this device, heat the infusion in a saucepan, then tilt your head and breathe in the steam. It is advisable to cover your head with a towel. Do inhalations for 7-10 days.

To eliminate the feeling of stuffiness in the ear, you can use herbal infusions made using the following plants:

1. Sage.
2. Eucalyptus.
3. Chamomile.
4. Chopped ginger root.
5. Calendula.

Add 1 tbsp. l. selected plant in a glass of water, boil for 10 minutes, cool. For each procedure, use 2-3 ml of the drug.

You can also use camphor alcohol, essential oil (2-3 ml each).

On a note!
After inhalation, it is forbidden to stay in a cold room. Immediately after the procedure, avoid drafts. It is advisable to rest for half an hour after inhalation.

Boric alcohol

Heat the container with boric alcohol in a water bath to a temperature convenient for you. Take a pipette, drop a few drops into your ear, and cover the passage with a cotton swab. Cover this area with oilcloth, then with a scarf. The compress can be left overnight. After removing the compress, clean your ears. In most cases, the feeling of congestion goes away immediately after the first procedure. If you do not achieve a positive effect after the first session, apply the compress again. Make compresses for 2-3 days.

Camomile tea

Rinsing the ear with chamomile infusion can be combined with other therapeutic methods. The solution is made using 2 tbsp. l. dried flowers per glass of water. Pour boiling water over the flowers and wait until they cool down. Strain the resulting product, then heat it to 50 degrees.

Before using the tincture, it is advisable to massage the skin near the ears with gentle movements. To rinse, turn your head so that the affected ear is on top. Draw the solution into a syringe, then direct the liquid into the ear canal. Repeat these steps several times. It is advisable to carry out inhalations 2 times a day. A pronounced positive effect can be noticed after 2-3 days. Use this remedy for a week.

Before performing any procedures necessary to relieve ear congestion, completely clear mucus from your nasal passages. It is advisable to consult a doctor, focusing on his recommendations to carry out specific treatment measures. This way you can avoid common complications and eliminate the underlying disease in a short time. Salicylic acid 2 percent for acne, read on our website.

Folk remedies for congestion

With the approval of your doctor, you can use some traditional medicine that can restore normal hearing. Let's take a closer look:

• Pour boiling water over rose hips to remove germs. Cut the berries into 3-4 parts. Place them in a glass container and fill them with boiling water (about 100 mg). We insist for about three hours. Based on this liquid, turundas are made and inserted into the ear with impaired hearing;
• Grind the bay leaf into powder. For this purpose, you need to use a dried leaf. The resulting powder is poured with a glass of boiling water and allowed to brew for about three hours. Strain the resulting liquid with gauze. The infusion is instilled into the problematic ear three times a day, 2 drops;
• Dill umbrella seeds are placed in boiling water. Boil for about 20 minutes. The dill water is cooled to room temperature. Drop 1 drop into the ear three times a day.

Other tips

If you suddenly feel dizzy, press strongly and painfully directly on your temples, and congestion appears, this may be a consequence of serious vascular pathologies. A detailed examination will be required. Based on its results, the doctor prescribes medications.

Stuffiness, noise and ringing in the ear canal area is often associated with hypertension, so in such a situation it is necessary to regularly take medications that reduce blood pressure.

If sinusitis or tonsillitis is diagnosed at the complication stage, then antibiotics and antiseptic drugs are prescribed. Antihistamines may be required. They are indicated if the allergic nature of the pathology is identified.

In a situation where the deterioration of hearing and the appearance of a pressing sensation in the ears is affected by the development of cervical osteochondrosis, a set of measures will be required. In parallel with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, therapeutic massage is performed. Physiotherapy and professionally performed acupuncture help well.