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Effective strategies to alleviate ear congestion
Top Tips for Clearing Ears Blocked Due to Cold
Techniques to Unblock Your Ears from Cold
Procedures
Alleviating Sinus Pressure
Methods to Relieve Eustachian Tube Blockage: To combat the discomfort or fullness in your ears post-cold, try swallowing deeply, yawning widely, or chewing gum. These actions help open up your eustachian tubes which run from your inner ear to your nose.
- This technique is handy even during flights when ear pressure builds up.
Technique to Equalize Ear Pressure: Inhale deeply and close your nostrils while exhaling gently through your nose. The pressure created in your eustachian tubes should result in a slight 'pop,' indicating unclogged ears.
- If your ears remain blocked, repeat this process once or twice more.
Caution: Be mindful of pressure exertion during exhalation to avoid ear discomfort.
Utilize Steam Inhalation: Run a hot shower for 5 to 10 minutes to fill your bathroom with steam. Inhale deeply to loosen sinus congestion and alleviate ear blockage.
- Steam inhalation may induce a runny nose, so keep tissues handy.
Use a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier to increase air moisture. Position the device in your bedroom and run it overnight while sleeping. Alternatively, you can operate it in a communal area during the day to enhance air humidity. This aids in alleviating sinus congestion.
- Ensure regular cleaning of the humidifier and replace the filter to prevent bacterial and mold growth.
Apply saline nasal drops or utilize saline nasal spray. These products are readily available in pharmacies and grocery stores. Administer 1-2 drops or sprays into each nostril, wait 5-10 minutes, then blow your nose. Refer to the product label for specific usage instructions. Saline solution aids in clearing sinus congestion, which may alleviate ear blockage.
- When using saline drops for infants, gently suction mucus from their nostrils using a bulb syringe after application. Squeeze the bulb, insert the tip about 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) into the nostril, then release slowly to suction out mucus. Repeat for the other nostril.
Soothe a Sore Throat and Clear Congestion by Gargling with Saltwater. Mix 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of salt into 8 fl oz (240 mL) of warm water until fully dissolved. Gargle the saltwater at the back of your throat for 15-30 seconds. Repeat until the mixture is finished.
- Although primarily for soothing a sore throat, the warm water may also help loosen ear mucus since the throat and ears are connected via the eustachian tubes.
Earwax Removal
Apply a Warm Washcloth to Your Ears for 5 to 10 Minutes. Wet a clean washcloth with warm water, wring out excess moisture, and hold it against one ear at a time. This aids in loosening any earwax buildup.
- A hot water bottle can also serve as an alternative to a washcloth.
Apply a drop of olive or mineral oil into your ear and let it drain. Place a small drop of olive oil in a spoon near your ear canal. Tilt your head sideways and let the oil flow into your ear. Wait for approximately 30 seconds to allow the oil to soften the earwax. Then, tilt your head to let the oil and wax drip out onto a tissue. Repeat the process for the other ear.
- Ensure complete drainage of the oil to avoid any harm to your ear canal.
Consult a physician for professional earwax removal. If your ear blockage is due to wax rather than sinus mucus, schedule an appointment with your doctor for earwax removal using a specialized tool called a curette.
Pro Tip: Individuals with excessively waxy ears may require periodic visits to a doctor for earwax removal.
Avoid using cotton swabs to clean your ears. Despite their apparent usefulness, cotton swabs push earwax deeper into the ear canal. If you experience earwax blockage despite regular cleaning, it may be due to pushing wax further into your ears.
- Never insert long, pointed objects into your ears to avoid accidental eardrum damage.
Ear Unclogging with Medication
Take guaifenesin to thin the mucus in your ears. Consider a dosage of 400 mg of guaifenesin three times a day, roughly every 4 hours. Ensure each dose is accompanied by a full glass of water. Refer to the medication label for further dosing instructions and precautions.
- Avoid combining guaifenesin with decongestants without consulting your doctor first. Such combinations may be unsuitable for individuals with conditions like heart disease or high blood pressure.
Use a nasal decongestant to clear mucus. If you're recovering from a cold, lingering sinus mucus might be the culprit behind your clogged ears. Administer an over-the-counter nasal spray like Afrin into your sinuses through your nostrils to alleviate any remaining congestion.
- Limit nasal spray usage to no more than 3 consecutive days. Prolonged use may lead to sinus swelling as a reaction to the spray.
Apply topical nasal steroids for allergy relief. Distinguishing between common colds and allergies can be challenging. If you have a history of allergies and experience persistent ear blockage, discuss nasal steroid options with your doctor. These can help reduce sinus inflammation and unclog your ears.
- Only use nasal steroids under doctor's supervision.
- Be aware that nasal steroids may take up to 1 week to show results.
Take antibiotics if prescribed. Colds sometimes progress to sinus or ear infections. If you've had clogged ears for over 10 days, consult your doctor to discuss potential sinus infections.
Caution: Only use antibiotics if you have a bacterial infection and they've been prescribed by your doctor.
Consider seeking ventilation tubes from a doctor for severe blockage. In severe cases, surgical insertion of tubes into your ears by a doctor may be necessary to alleviate pressure and drain fluid from clogged eustachian tubes. Attempt home remedies first, and if your ears remain clogged after 3 weeks, consult your doctor.
- This procedure is typically reserved for individuals who have experienced frequent ear blockages throughout their lives.
Expert Series: Clearing Your Sinuses
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16 Methods to Relieve Nasal Congestion
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Clearing a Sinus Infection
Helpful Tips
Important Warnings
- If you experience severe pain, dizziness, or hearing loss due to your blocked ears, seek immediate medical attention.
