Many people know firsthand about stuffy ears, as well as ringing in them. These symptoms usually disappear after swallowing movements and do not cause severe discomfort. But sometimes this continues throughout the day or several days - in this case, it is necessary to undergo a diagnosis to determine the cause of congestion and ringing in the ears. Based on this, the doctor will prescribe an effective treatment.
Hearing loss should be a reason to see a doctor. Tinnitus and ringing are only symptoms, not an independent disease, and the sooner the cause of the disease is identified, the faster it will be cured.
Otitis media
This ailment is a common cause of stuffy ears. With otitis media, inflammation of the middle part of the organ of hearing occurs. With this disease, purulent discharge, pain, fever, a sensation of gurgling and other symptoms are observed. You can get rid of otitis with the help of anti-inflammatory drops and ointments that eliminatepain.
Pressure
If there are painful sensations with congestion and ringing in the ears, you need to check the pressure. Usually these symptoms are manifested in hypertensive patients. Changes in blood pressure usually lead to vasospasm. It is because of this process that shooting sensations and stuffiness in the ears appear.
This reason includes a change in pressure in the external environment. Usually, people feel congestion during takeoff or landing of an airplane, as well as during a trip through the mountains. This symptom also occurs when diving or scuba diving.
Rhinitis
A runny nose is a common cause of congestion and ringing in the ears. Because the nasal cavity is connected to the Eustachian tube, pressure builds up in the middle part of the ear. During this process, there is swelling, the formation of a large amount of mucus and a sensation of gurgling in the ears.
Sulphur plugs
If you have ringing in your ears for a long time, you need to go to the ENT for examination for the presence of sulfur plugs. Often, with the accumulation of a large amount of sulfur secretions, it leads to pain and severe hearing loss. The sensations intensify after a shower, as the wax swells and pressure on the walls of the ear canal - in this state they occupy up to 80% of the canal and cause inflammation.
Foreign objects
Sometimes stuffiness and ringing in the ears as if in an airplane occurs after a walk. In this case, you need to check the ear canal. The cause of congestion may be a hit inforeign object or insect. Usually in these cases there are sharp pains and dizziness.
Moisture
Stuffiness and ringing in the ears also appear after bathing in the shower or lakes, rivers. This symptom is evidence of water penetration into the ear canal. In this case, you need to dry the organ of hearing, otherwise there is a risk of acute otitis media or other ailments.
Allergy
If your ears suddenly stuff up and ring, it may well be an allergic reaction to something. It may appear due to prolonged treatment with antibiotics and other components.
Tumor
With constant ringing in the ears and congestion, you should check your he alth with an otolaryngologist. Sometimes people get severe inflammation of the paranasal sinuses or tonsils. 5% of patients have a tumor or cyst.
Hearing loss
The cause of ear congestion without pain can be hearing loss - in this case, the person does not hear well. This inflammation is often a complication after SARS, flu or colds, as well as not fully cured otitis media. Hearing loss can be checked with audiometry.
Pregnancy
Don't worry if you have ringing in your left ear (or right) during pregnancy. This is not worth the nerves, since these symptoms are natural changes in the hormonal system. They are not hazardous to he alth.
Deviated septum
Ringing in the ear and congestion does not go away with a deviated septum. In thiscase, surgical intervention and restoration of patency in the nose are needed. Otherwise it could be lifelong.
Movement in transport
When a car or plane picks up speed, some people develop pressure that affects the eardrum. Often, drivers and racing drivers develop noise in the head and stuffiness in the ears. You can fix these defects with:
- chewing gum;
- lollipop;
- a sip of water;
- mint pill.
Passengers experiencing such discomfort in transport can also use these tools. If the ringing does not disappear for a long time after making a trip, you need the help of an ENT doctor.
When do you need medical attention?
Don't let the problem run its course, even if it appears infrequently. Professional help needed for:
- significant hearing loss;
- appearance of dizziness, nausea, weakness, unsteady gait, vomiting, incoordination;
- prolonged noise;
- occurrence, except for the ringing of intense headaches, pain in the heart part.
Computed tomography and audiometry are prescribed for diagnosis. An examination of the ear canals is also performed with special tools that can detect sulfur plugs or foreign objects, otitis externa. If multiple sclerosis or a brain tumor is suspected, a consultation with a neurologist is prescribed.
Treatment
Cure constant ringing intinnitus and congestion can be after establishing their cause. If this phenomenon is associated with sulfuric plug, then it must be eliminated. Drops "Remo-Vax" or "Uhonorm" are suitable for this. They need to be instilled with a small plug, but if the deposits are more than 50% in size, the patient needs medical help.
Treatment of ringing and congestion in the ears when a foreign object penetrates is performed in the emergency room. It is not worth it to eliminate the insect (or anything else) on your own, since there is a risk of pushing it through the auditory canal.
What to drip with congestion and ringing in the ears? If the cause of inflammation is associated with edema, vasoconstrictor drops are prescribed: Snoop, Vibrocil, Nazol. With otitis media, anti-inflammatory drops for the ears are prescribed: Otipax, Otinum. In an acute illness, antibiotic drops are required: Dexon, Sufradex. They are used to protect against complications.
When there is ringing in the left ear (or right) and congestion is observed, antiviral drugs should be used. Usually, doctors recommend the use of Kagocel, because it eliminates swelling and congestion in a short period. If there is no inflammation, alcohol compresses will be effective - they can be used to eliminate pain and restore sensitivity.
Surgical intervention is required if discomfort occurs due to head trauma or a deviated septum. Violation of the anatomy can be the cause of chronic sinusitis.
If there is only stuffiness in the ear, without pain, and also the ringing appears for no reasonear he alth, therapy directed at the root cause is required. This is necessary for hypertension, hypotension and osteochondrosis. It should be borne in mind that if left untreated, inflammation of the nasal cavity and mouth may appear.
Before using any drugs and performing medical procedures, you should consult your doctor. It is important to observe the dosage and frequency of taking medications. This information is indicated separately in the prescription for each drug.
Vitamins
To strengthen the immune system, vitamins are also needed - with their help, susceptibility to inflammatory pathogens is reduced. Vitamin therapy is considered effective for stuffy ears and sensorineural hearing loss. B vitamins are especially helpful.
Physiotherapy
Pathologies of the ear, in which congestion appears in them, are also treated with physiotherapeutic methods. With otitis media, UHF and microwave therapy, drug electrophoresis, and ultraviolet radiation are considered effective.
Sensory hearing loss is treated with electrophoresis and Darsonville currents. Pneumomassage of the tympanic membrane is often used, in which high and low air pressure alternate.
Folk methods
Folk methods are effective in the absence of pain. It is important to make sure that there is no reason for drug therapy. In this case, the following recipes can help:
- Propolis (30 g) is crushed and poured with alcohol (70%, 100 g). After insisting, the mixture must be filtered (it is necessary within a week), then moisten a cotton pad in it andput it in your ear.
- A mixture of honey and horseradish juice will help. It is instilled at night with a few drops.
- Onion juice mixed with vodka - 4:1. The agent is instilled 2 drops in the morning and evening.
- When a foreign object or insect enters the ear, warm vegetable oil should be dripped. Then rinse with warm water from a syringe.
Herbal treatment
For the treatment of ear ailments, geranium leaves are used (they must be crushed and put in the ears). Effective tincture based on calendula flowers, which can be used for instillation and compresses. Lavender, St. John's wort and mullein also have a therapeutic effect - you can prepare an infusion from all plants at once or from each separately. The remedy is instilled into the ears when congestion appears.
Homeopathy
From homeopathic medicines for congestion and noise, the following drugs are used, sold in pharmacies:
- "Asinis". It is used for inflammation of the middle ear and Eustachian tube. It is a clear liquid with a faint horseradish flavor. The drug is used orally 3 times a day. It is used in pure form or diluted with water. Children 3-4 years old are prescribed 3-4 drops, 5-12 years old - 5-7 drops, and adults - 10 drops. There are no side effects or contraindications.
- "Vertihochel". The drug is used for vascular atherosclerosis, Meniere's disease, hypertension, airplane flights - conditions in which ear congestion appears. A clear liquid is used intravenously, intramuscularly or subcutaneously by injection. The dose is from¼ of an ampoule (at 1-3 years old) to a whole ampoule (for adults). No negative effects found.
- "Gaymorin". The remedy treats sinusitis, sinusitis, leading to congestion. It is produced in the form of granules. For young children, they are dissolved in water, and for teenagers and adults, they can be absorbed under the tongue 20 minutes before meals or after an hour of eating. The dose for 1 time is 3-5 pcs. (up to 6 times a day). As a preventive measure, 1 time will be enough.
- "Sclero-gran". The drug is used for tinnitus. These are granules for resorption under the tongue. Children should not be prescribed a remedy, since there are no studies on its safety, and adults need to take 5 pcs. for 1 time. Pregnant and lactating women should not take this drug, as side effects in the form of allergies are possible.
Surgical Care
Intervention of surgeons is required for purulent otitis media - the eardrum is bypassed. Surgical care is also prescribed for the curvature of the nasal septum. The operation is also performed for acoustic neuritis. Hearing loss due to otosclerosis may require a stapedectomy, which involves replacing the auditory ossicle with a prosthesis.
Prevention
A preventive measure against stuffy ears is protection from hypothermia and timely treatment of ailments. It is necessary to follow the rules of ear hygiene, and do not use matches and metal objects to clean the ears. With high pressure, you need to take the means that bring it back to normal.
Forecastear congestion without pain is considered positive with a timely diagnosis and treatment. If multiple sclerosis or stroke is diagnosed, the outlook is likely to be bleak.
If your ears are constantly pawned, you should not put off visiting a doctor. With timely treatment, any disease can be stopped and cured. In no case should you start therapy without consulting a doctor. After recovery, you must follow a proper lifestyle and diet, and you should also spend a lot of time in the fresh air and harden the body.
