“I feel like my ears are clogged!” Do you often feel this way? Although not necessarily a sign of ear disease, but still, feeling clogged ears can make you uncomfortable. Sounds from the environment may seem muffled and less clear.
In some cases, this condition will go away quickly. However, some feel that their ears feel clogged for days. So, what is the cause of this clogged ear?
Why feels like the ear is clogged?
Ear blockage is when the ear feels like it is being blocked by something, thus affecting the ability to hear and causing hearing loss.
You can feel a blockage in the ear with pressure symptoms or a feeling of fullness in the ear.
You may also experience ear pain, dizziness, and muffled hearing, depending on each cause.
This condition can be experienced by anyone in all age groups, from adults to children.
The cause of the ear feels like there is water in it
Several conditions can cause the ear to feel clogged.
Blockage in the canal in the ear
Blockage in the eustachian tube is one of the possible causes. The eustachian tube is a tube that connects the middle ear to the throat.
Fluid and mucus will flow from the ear to the back of the throat through this channel.
However, fluid and mucus can sometimes become trapped in the middle ear, making the ear feel blocked instead of flowing down the throat.
This blockage usually occurs when you have a common cold, influenza, sinusitis, or infection. Allergic reactions, such as allergic rhinitis, can cause blockages in the eustachian tube.
Symptoms of a blockage caused by an infection or allergy include:
- runny nose,
- cough,
- sneezes
- sore throat.
It is vital to unblock this eustachian tube because trapped fluid can cause ear infections if left alone.
You are in a specific place
Ears feel clogged, possibly due to changes in environmental pressure that occur rapidly. This condition affects the closure of the eustachian tube, also known as barotrauma.
When this pressure difference occurs, the body will try to adapt. Together with the eardrum, the eustachian tube helps equalize the external pressure between the middle and outer ear.
This adjustment causes the eustachian tube to close. As a result, the ear feels clogged.
Some people who can experience this blockage are people who do scuba diving, climb mountains, travel by airplane, or go to places in the highlands.
Too much earwax production
The production of wax or earwax is needed to prevent debris from outside from entering the ear.
However, if the ear produces too much wax, this can also cause the ear to feel clogged.
In some people, this overproduction may occur. Usually, the ear has its cleaning system so that the production of dirt does not clog.
Therefore, for those who feel they have excessive earwax production, you should do regular ear cleaning at the doctor.
Because if you do your ear cleaning at home using cotton swabs, dirt can be pushed deeper into and touch the eardrum.
Symptoms of this condition include:
- earache,
- ear ringing,
- dizzy.
Acoustic neuroma
Acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor growth that develops in the cranial nerves leading from the ear into the brain. These tumors are usually slow-growing and small in size.
However, over time, these tumors can grow to be large and put pressure on the inner ear’s nerves.
This pressure can make the ears feel clogged, hearing decreases, and the ears feel buzzing.
Foreign objects enter the ear.
Foreign objects that enter the ear can also cause the ear to feel like it is blocked.
This condition is more common in young children who often put things in their ears out of curiosity or dare to follow what they see.
A foreign body that enters the ear does not cause a fever or any symptoms unless the blockage has been around long enough to cause an infection.
Therefore, children need good supervision so that this does not happen. You can also use a flashlight to ensure your child’s ears are okay.
If this happens to your child, never put anything sharp in the ear to remove the foreign object.
Overcome ears that feel like they are clogged
Launching from Seattle Children’s Hospital, there are some things you can do to get rid of clogged ears at home, such as the following.
- Drink while closing the nostrils tightly to smooth the passage between the nose and ears.
- Chew gum for 1-2 hours.
- Use a decongestant spray if the condition does not go away after chewing gum for a long time.
- Take antihistamine drugs to relieve allergic reactions.
Although it can be treated at home, feeling clogged ears can signal a more severe condition. Therefore, stay alert regarding other symptoms that accompany this condition.
Immediately consult a doctor if you experience the following symptoms.
- You are worried about the condition of your ears.
- Pain occurs in the ear.
- Symptoms experienced worsened.
- You suspect a foreign object has entered the ear.
- Ear plugs do not go away after 48 hours.
