There are several people who suffer from a common ear problem, where the ear gets stopped up due to several factors. A stopped up ear, also known as a blocked ear, can be quite a painful condition and at the same time, it could cause a person to experience hearing difficulties too. Some of the other problems that are a result of an ear that's stopped up are, difficulty is swallowing and experiencing a constant ringing sensation in the ears. Both, adults and children could suffer from an earache, caused by a blocked ear. Unfortunately, most of the cases of a blocked ear are self inflicted. This is because the accumulation of ear wax is one of the most common causes of an ear being stopped up. When we use ear buds or other similar products to get rid of the wax in the ear, we unknowingly push the earwax deeper into the ear canals. Thereafter, the wax forms a layer in the ear, which consists of secretions from the sweat glands, as well as the sebaceous glands. There could be several other factors too, which can cause a person to suffer from an ear that is stopped up and ringing.
An earache could be a very painful and uncomfortable condition, which is very difficult for most people to bear. This is why there are many people who consult an ear specialist for immediate earache treatment and relief. However, there are several earache treatment options and in order to administer the correct one, it is absolutely essential for doctors to identify what the exact earache causes are.
Causes
Earache causes in adults could be a bit different from the most common causes of earache in children. Given below are some of the most common causes of earache in adults and children.
- In some cases, people could suffer from a condition known as Otitis Media, which is caused by either a viral infection or a bacterial infection that affects the middle ear region. When this infection occurs, it causes a blockage in the ear.
- There are thousands of adults and children, who experience an ear stopped up after flight, especially during take off and landing. This blockage and pain occurs due to the difference in the pressure, between the air inside the middle ear and out of the ear.
- There are several people who suffer from an ear stopped up allergies or a cold. Suffering from an allergy or a cold can cause a person's ear tubes to swell up, and get congested.
- At times, the ears could get clogged by water, after a shower or a swim. This is because the water gets trapped in the ear by the buildup of earwax.
- Although it is not very common, at times an earache can be triggered off by pain in the tooth. This is because the roots of some of the teeth are very close to the ear canal and hence, pain, or even an infection, can easily pass on from the tooth to the ear canal. Hence, some of the earache causes include toothache. Similarly, health experts also claim that if the situation is reversed, then an earache causes toothache too. At times, an earache could lead to a sore throat too.
Symptoms
There are several signs and symptoms that can accompany a blocked ear. Given below, are some of the most common symptoms of ears that have been stopped up:
- A decrease in hearing abilities
- Excruciating pain in the ears
- Loss in balance or dizziness
- Discharge from the ear
- Bleeding in the ear
Cures
When people refer to a doctor, for earache relief options, it is important for a doctor to conduct certain tests, to identify the severity of the condition and to check exactly what is causing the blockage. Some of the most common tests conducted by an ear specialist are x rays, an Otoscope test, hearing tests and a lab test. In case the condition is not to severe, most of the earache treatment options include home remedies for earache. However, in case the reports state that the blockage is severe and requires medical earache treatment, then doctors may recommend the use of:
- Ear drops to hydrate the ear lining and to soften the wax and get rid of it
- Antibiotics to fight off the infection
- Steroids to reduce the swelling
- Oral antibiotics
- Pain relievers
However, the use of medical earache treatment is rare in most cases. Most people are asked to use home remedies for earache, for immediate earache relief.
- Pour just a couple of drops of garlic juice, or garlic extract or even garlic oil directly into the infected ear. This gets rid of the infection causing bacteria and subsequently helps in reliving the earache.
- A natural antibiotic, such as colloidal silver can be used to clean the ears.
- Some doctors recommend that the excess water in the Eustachian tube can be dried up, by using a blow dryer. However, the drier should not be placed too close to the ear; a distance of about 12 to 15 inches should be maintained between the ear and the drier.
- Pouring around a drop or two of olive oil in the infected ear, can help reduce the irritation and discomfort caused by a blocked ear. .
- Health experts also recommend putting a couple of drops of Lobelia extract straight into the infected ear. The ear then needs to be rubbed gently.
These home remedies help relieve pain in the ears, as well as a sore throat or a toothache, (that are a result of an earache). While most of the home remedies for earache and sore throat, mentioned above are fairly safe, it is best to consult a doctor before using any of them. Moreover, in case the use of an earache home remedy seems to worsen the condition, it is important to stop using it immediately and keep a doctor informed about it.
answered by G R