Causes of ear congestion: is it possible to cope with the problem yourself (video)

Are your ears blocked? Possible causes include infections, certain diseases, and large amounts of sulfur. When you need a doctor's help.

About the possible causes of the unpleasant condition tells Medical News Today, emphasizing that only some of them can be eliminated on their own.

Earwax

Many people underestimate the importance of earwax: it protects an important organ from infections and water or insects getting into the ear. The body removes excess of this “barrier” using a self-cleaning mechanism, but sometimes it fails and sulfur begins to accumulate, experts say. Natural processes can be disrupted due to excessive and prolonged use of objects that a person inserts into the ears – headphones, hearing aids, earplugs etc. Sometimes foreign objects can stimulate the production of earwax.

Eustachian tube dysfunction

When the organ, a small tube that connects the ear and nose, does not work properly, a person may experience ear congestion. At the same time, the opinions of doctors regarding the causes of Eustachian tube dysfunction are ambiguous:

• Some talk about an allergic reaction and infection, which causes swelling of the mucous membrane of the Eustachian tube, and as a result, a functional impairment.
• Others argue that the cause of the dysfunction may be a person's deviated nasal septum.

Problems with ear congestion can also occur in the presence of a tumor or after injury.

Sinus bradycardia

The complex name means a decrease in heart rate below 60 beats per minute. In this case, a person can not only feel stuffy ears and nose, but also sometimes hear ringing in the ears. According to doctors, most often Sinus pressure is experienced by patients with sinusitis or other viral infections of the nasal passages.

High pressure in flight

On an airplane, especially during takeoff or landing, some people may experience stuffy ears. This phenomenon is associated with changes in air transport speed, altitude or atmospheric pressure. At such moments, the eardrum bends outward or, conversely, retracts inward; the process may be accompanied by pain.

Ear infection

Infections are a common cause of ear congestion. This occurs due to inflammation of the ear after infection. Doctors add that some ear infections can occur as a result of allergies.

Meniere's disease

The disease affects the inner ear. According to scientists, in patients with Meniere's disease, fluid accumulates in the inner ear and vestibular organs. One of the symptoms is ear congestion.

Acoustic neuroma

Acoustic neuroma is a benign brain tumor that grows from the eighth cranial nerve and causes progressive hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. The eighth cranial nerve runs between the brain stem and the inner ear, conveying information about balance and sound. The part of the nerve that conveys balance information is called the vestibular part of the eighth nerve, and most acoustic neuromas grow from cells (Schwann cells) covering this part of the nerve. According to doctors, the tumor is growing and can put pressure on nerves and affect hearing and balance. Symptoms include stuffy ears.

When is a doctor needed?

You should seek medical help for ear problems if you experience the following symptoms:

• bleeding from the ears;
• severe pain in the ear;
• hearing loss;
• numbness of the face.

You should also consult a doctor if your ears are clogged for a long time – the presence of fluid in the ear or inflammation of the ear can only be detected during diagnosis. If your ears are clogged, doctors do not recommend removing earwax yourself, as this can be harmful.

Source link