Stuffy ears can be very uncomfortable and they are sometimes provoked by serious diseases.
If the person has the constant feeling of being underwater or water has entered the ear, well, then he is very likely suffering from plugged or blocked ears.
The doctor who takes care of such disorders is the ear doctor.
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Causes of blocked ears
There are many causes of stuffy ears. They can be mild or severe:
Tubal catarrh: This is a catarrh in the Eustachian tube.
Due to mucus accumulation, inflammation and bacterial infection may develop.
Symptoms include:
- Earache when an infection develops.
- Tinnitus (buzzing or whistling in the ears) due to the mucus in the middle ear pushing the eardrum outwards.
- Dizziness or drowsiness, when the inflammation spreads to the inner ear, where the semicircular ducts and other vestibular organs are located.
- Fever and enlarged lymph nodes when catarrhal otitis media develops.
Therapy consists of:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories,
- Corticosteroids, orally (Bentelan) or by inhalation.
Jumping into the water: The increased pressure created when jumping into the water can lead to blocked ears.
Infections of the ear (otitis media): One of the possible causes is a middle ear infection, which usually occurs as a result of a cold or other respiratory infection. In this case, the middle ear is blocked by accumulated mucus. Symptoms include earache.
Otitis (also known as swimming pool otitis): It occurs mainly when water enters the ear canal and promotes the development of infection.
Loud noises: If you suddenly hear a loud noise or are exposed to loud noises for a long time, a blocked ear is one of the effects. This situation can also lead to temporary hearing loss.
If you go to sleep after an evening at the disco or a concert, your ear is blocked and you have ringing in your ears for a few hours, but the following morning the symptoms disappear again.
Bone formation in the ear: Abnormal bone formation in the outer ear (otosclerosis) can subsequently cause closed ears and increasing hearing loss.
Meniere’s disease: Meniere’s syndrome is a condition characterized by:
- ear closure,
- Vertigo
- nausea and vomiting,
- muffled sound perception,
- increasing hearing loss.
Pimples: A pimple in the ear can cause the feeling of a blocked ear.
Tumor: A throat tumor can cause the sensation of a blocked ear.
Pregnancy: Women in pregnancy often feel blocked ears in the morning. Possible causes are:
- change in blood pressure,
- hormonal changes that lead to swelling of the nasal mucosa or nasal turbinates.
Foreign bodies: Residues of objects or insects can get stuck in the external auditory canal and cause the feeling of muffled auditory perception.
Bruxism: Those who grind their teeth at night tense the jaw muscles in the head and neck.
Excessive activity of the cranial muscles can lead to contracture, which results in dysfunction of the auricular tube (Eustachian tube).
This tube connects the middle ear to the throat and to the external environment of the body.
If the auricular tube does not work correctly, the pressure in the inner ear is not in equilibrium with the external pressure.
The result can be a muffled auditory perception.
Ear clogged when flying
Changes in pressure and altitude – barotrauma: When travelling by plane or when staying at higher altitudes in the mountains, the ears close because they are not able to adapt to the falling external pressure.
Relief of barotrauma
During air travel or diving and similar activities, the atmospheric pressure changes cause a pressure difference between the inner and outer sides of the eardrum.
A sudden change in pressure can damage the tympanic membrane; This lesion is called barotrauma and causes:
- feeling of blocked ears,
- Earache
- Vertigo.
In order to experience relief from this sensation and to free oneself from this feeling of constipation, one can do the following:
- Yawn and swallow frequently to open the Eustachian tube and allow airflow inside and outside the middle ear. This balances the pressure inside and outside the ear.
- Chew gum or suck a candy to increase muscle movements that equalize pressure.
- Keep your mouth and nostrils closed and exhale strongly against it. This force opens the blockage, which can be noticed by a clear crack.
Ear clogged by wax
Earwax accumulation: Very often, one of the causes of blocked ears is simply an earwax plug. You may hear sounds muffled and voices unclear. An accumulation of earwax can also easily cause pain in the ears.
The feeling of blocked ears can last for many months or years, but once the plugs are removed, normal hearing immediately returns.
Water in the ears: If water penetrates the ear while swimming or showering, you usually have the feeling of blocked ears, because the earwax absorbs the fluid and increases in volume.
There are many means to remove the lard from the ear; However, if it does not reach, you can simply consult an ear doctor to avoid damage to:
- Eardrum
- Auditory canal.
Some people produce excessive amounts of lard and secretion; According to the theory of the blood group diet, the cause of this is a diet rich in:
- Milk
- Cheese
- yogurt,
- Dairy products.
It is advisable to avoid these foods in order to prevent the production of earwax and to rid the ear.
Many women did not want to eliminate dairy products from their diets because they believe that these foods are necessary for the prevention of osteoporosis due to their high calcium content.
There are several plant foods to increase calcium absorption:
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Seeds (linseed and chia seeds)
- Almonds
- Pulses
Symptoms of ear congestion
The most obvious sensation is that of a cotton ball in the ear.
Some people have the feeling of a liquid in their ear.
You may also experience mild or intense earache.
Some people state:
- to feel the heartbeat in the ear,
- that her voice resonates in her ear.
With infection, the patient may also have enlarged cervical lymph nodes.
When is a blocked ear cause for concern?
As a rule, the causes of stuffy ears are not dangerous diseases, but one should consult a doctor in case of:
- Fever
- pus discharge from the ear,
- Vertigo
- Loss of hearing.
In this case, there could be inflammation or infection that could become chronic and possibly damage the internal structures of the ear.
