You try to swallow hard and yawn but to no avail, your ears are clogged and you can’t do anything about it. You’ve attempted popping your ear, chewing gum, or trying to open your ear canal with your finger. Hoping your ears will just unclog on their own, at some point you may just give up. But if you have discharge, discomfort, or the signs of an ear infection, this would be a bad idea.
A small passageway that connects the middle ear to the space behind the nose and regulates the pressure that goes the ears, called the eustachain tube, will get blocked if it stays closed or open for too long. You might notice a crackling or popping noise in your ears as this tube opens and closes when you swallow or yawn. A virus, sinus infection or allergy could cause the ear to remain closed, while hormonal changes can cause the ear to remain open. It might take your ears a while to go back to normal but both issues will recede over time.
Another cause of clogged ears is buildup of earwax. Ear treatment can clear this kind of clog, depending on the severity, this can be at home or at the hearing professional. Here are a few guidelines when dealing with blocked ears:
You Can Try Dripping Hydrogen Peroxide Drops into Your Ear
Hydrogen peroxide can be utilized to dissolve earwax blockages, but it must be placed in your ear properly. Hearing professionals suggest that you mix the solution with warm water making certain that the water isn’t too hot and then putting a drop or two in your ear with a pipette. After you tilt your ear upward and put the drops in, a few seconds should be enough to dissolve the wax blockage. You could need to repeat this several times a day for a couple of days, but eventually, the blockage should clear.
Never Clean Your Ear by Sticking Something inside it
Seriously, this is worth restating: it will only make the predicament worse if you try to use a cotton swab to clean your ears. Cotton swabs actually push earwax deeper into your ear canal, which can cause a total blockage. In fact, anything that is inserted in your ears can possibly lead to an earwax blockage, including hearing aids and earplugs. In order to avoid earwax accumulation, you should use cotton swabs only on the outer ear.
Treat Your Allergies
If you suffer from allergies, it can make a plugged ear worse. Follow your doctor’s instructions concerning managing your allergies and don’t forget to take your treatment. Steer clear of any unnecessary allergens, specifically during allergy season.
Be Suspicious of Home Remedies That Sound Weird
It probably goes without saying, but you seriously should not stick a lit candle into your ear to clear away a clog caused by wax. Ear candling is an old and very unscientific way of clearing earwax by sticking a hollow candle in your ear and lighting it. Theoretically, earwax is pulled into the hollow space in the candle when the heat of the flame creates a vacuum. This does not work and you will most likely cause a lot more harm to your ears. Keep in mind, if it sounds wrong you should consult a specialist. Don’t risk losing your hearing by merely trying anything.
If you don’t find any other solution, you should give us a call. Lasting hearing loss or a ruptured eardrum are the kinds of repercussions you could experience from improper earwax removal.