Getting clogged ear is a popular symptom. It can happen to every ones but children are most likely to have them, especially when they have colds or sinus infections.
Although your ear sometimes can unblock by itself within hours or days, it’s better to know its causes as well as ways to treat it to provide fast relief. In a more serious case, however, knowing how your clogged ear comes from would be helpful for the treatment at home and diagnosis of doctor.
We’re writing about these concerns in this article. Keep reading to know more!
Why your ear feels clogged?
There are several causes of the clogged sensation in the ear. If you want to deal with it smartly, you need give it a look.
Earwax
Earwax plays an important role in protecting your ear by cleansing the ear canal and preventing debris from entering. But the point is that too much earwax can make your ear stuffy, leading to earache, ringing in the ears and dizziness.
Some people often use a cotton swab to clean the inside of the ear. However, this method do more harm than good because it pushes earwax deeper in the ear, then, causes a clogged sensation in the ear.
Eustachian tube blockage
As you may know, Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the throat. Eustachian tube blockage happens when fluid and mucus back up and get trapped in your middle ear instead of flowing down the throat. This triggers middle ear infection and allergies, eventually causing ear congestion.
Water in the ear
The second common cause of clogged ear is the water inside your ear. In most cases, the water remaining in your ear after swimming and showering might make your ear stuffy for a while. However, if the water is not taken out of your ear, it may result in a more serious symptom, ear infection.
A change in altitude
The side effect of altitude change may trigger clogged ear. Here is how it works: Your Eustachian tube sometimes cannot equalize air pressure in the middle ear properly. Then, it cannot prevent the ears from feeling pressure change, making your ear stuffy and accompanied by headache, nausea, or shortness of breath.
Sinus infection
Ear congestion may refer to a health problem, sinus infection caused by common cold, flue, allergies and irritants (such as tobacco smoke). It results in fluid behind the eardrum, leading to other symptoms, including ear pain, fever, or even upper respiratory illness.
How to unclog your ear?
You may experience discomfort or pain with a clogged ear. Calm down, guys! Here are some remedies and medications that you can try:
Ear drops
Using ear drops to soften earwax, then remove it out of the air is a popular solution. Make sure that you choose substances that are safe to add in your ear. Here are some of them: mineral oil, baby oil, carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide and glycerin.
Ear irrigation
The second method that you can try is ear irrigation. To have best effect, you need to follow all instructions on it. For those, who have had ear surgery or injury are not recommended to do ear irrigation at home.
Inhale steam
Those who get clogged sensation in the ear because of infection or allergies might use steam or a hot shower to solve it. This method works because the sinuses connect directly back to the ears.
All you need to do it at home is just a pot of hot water and a towel. Place the towel over the pot and your head, and take deep breaths to inhale the steam. It’s simple, right?
Mineral and essential oils
Many use mineral and essential oils that contain antibiotic, antiseptic, or anti-inflammatory properties to treat a stuffy ear. Adding some drops or placing these oil near your nose, you will see their impact on your ear. Three most commonly recommended are tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil.
Gargle with saltwater
Add some salt to a cup of water, gargle the mixture for a few second then spit it out, you may take away your clogged ear. It’s an easy yet effective remedy preferred by parents whose kids have mucus stuck in their ears and nose.
As clogged ears may happen to both kids and adults, there are several ways to deal with it. Just make sure to follow all instructions of the remedy when doing it at home. In case your clogged ear is caused by allergy or Eustachian tube blockage, you should see your doctor for the best treatment.
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