If the ear is stuffed up, but does not hurt, it is imperative to establish the causes of such a problem and treat it. The choice of the method of therapy and its outcome largely depend on the provoking factor. It is best to immediately contact an otolaryngologist for diagnosis if a problem occurs, since only a specialist will be able to make the correct diagnosis and choose the appropriate treatment.
Main reasons
If the ear is blocked but not painful, the reasons for this may be different. Based on the provoking factor, you can choose the most appropriate treatment. They may relate to ear problems. And also indirect reasons can act as a provoking factor. These should include the following:
- penetrated liquid while bathing;
- change in atmospheric pressure;
- pathology of the heart;
- sulfur plugs;
- foreign body;
- runny nose;
- taking certain medications;
- pregnancy;
- deviated septum.
If your head hurts and your ears are blocked, then the cause of this may be the course of infectious processes in the body. Pathogens that provoke it can enter the ear canal with a runny nose and colds. This can provoke eustachitis, turbootitis, otitis media.
What are the symptoms
The main symptoms largely depend on the cause that provoked such a violation. If this is due to the penetration of foreign objects into the ear, exposure to atmospheric changes, and is also the result of the course of other diseases, then two signs should be distinguished among the main symptoms: a headache and stuffy ears. In addition, there is a feeling of something superfluous, and there may also be dizziness.
If the main cause is the presence of an infection that has penetrated the middle ear, then the signs will be difficulty swallowing, tingling, sharp pains and backache in the ear. The ear canal may ooze pus.
Diagnostics
If a similar problem is observed, it is recommended to contact an otolaryngologist, as only he can determine exactly why the ear is blocked, but does not hurt. To assess the general condition of the patient, the specialist may prescribe procedures such as:
- audiometry;
- tympanometry;
- radiography;
- biopsy.
To exclude the presence of certain pathologies, an otolaryngologist can refer a person to narrow specialists. You may need to see a cardiologistor a neurologist.
Providing treatment
Many ear congestion treatments can be done on your own. If the cause of this was the penetration of liquid, then you need to try to get rid of it as soon as possible. If this is not done in a timely manner, the liquid can provoke the development of infection and inflammation. You can eliminate water with a cotton swab.
In case of pressure drops, if the ear is stuffed up, but does not hurt, you need to breathe deeply through your mouth. In this case, you need to swallow or try to yawn. The result will not be long in coming. If a sulfur plug has formed, you need to try to eliminate it. It consists of sulfur and particles of the epidermis. You can remove it with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
If the ear is blocked and the temple hurts, it is recommended to use natural almond oil. You need to bury it in three to five drops, and then put a cotton swab in your ear. When congestion is observed as a result of an increase in pressure, then therapy must necessarily be aimed at quickly eliminating existing problems with the cardiovascular system; simple cleaning of the ears is indispensable here. Depending on the severity of the person's condition, you can take blood pressure medication or visit a doctor to prevent complications from developing.
The foreign body is removed with blunt-tipped tweezers. But you have to be very careful not to push it further.
Liquid after bathing
If the ear is blocked but does not hurt, thenoften a similar problem occurs when water enters the ear canal. Basically, the liquid flows out on its own or dries out over time without causing any inconvenience. But if there is a desire to speed up this process, you need to gently push a piece of cotton into your ear, but not very deep.
You can just lie with your ear on the pillow, after putting a towel under it, and wait a while. Usually, fluid in the ear does not provoke any dangerous complications, but pathogenic bacteria can develop much faster in the aquatic environment. That is why, if after a few days the discomfort has not disappeared or pain has joined them, you need to consult a specialist.
Congestion after illness
If a person has a fever, stuffy ears, a sore throat, then this may be a sign of an infection. In this case, you should definitely visit a doctor, since only an otolaryngologist will help determine exactly where the infectious lesion is localized, which microbes provoked the disease and what exactly needs to be treated.
The doctor will prescribe antibacterial agents, if needed, painkillers, and even tell you what kind of folk methods can be used. In the event of the presence of pus or its discharge, it is strictly forbidden to use alternative medicine, as they will only provoke a deterioration in well-being and the development of complications.
If you have an infection, do not warm up your ears yourself, as this can lead to a rupture of the eardrum and evencomplete deafness. You should not use folk remedies for instillation on your own, as this can provoke the development of allergies and even more severe swelling. The maximum that can be done before visiting a specialist is to drip vasoconstrictor drops into the nose or take any anti-allergic drugs.
Stuffed up ear after flight
Many people tell how their ear was blocked after the flight: "It doesn't hurt, but I can't hear." This happens due to the fact that there is a drop in atmospheric pressure, which negatively affects well-being. In this case, you usually don't need to do anything. It is best to simply prevent such congestion from occurring. To do this, during takeoff, you need to keep a lollipop in your mouth, chew gum or yawn. Such simple actions make the muscles work much more actively, opening the passage to the Eustachian tube, into which air then enters, and gradually the pressure equalizes.
If the ear is still blocked, then you can try to strongly squeeze the wings of the nose, as if you need to blow your nose, and exhale. However, all manipulations must be carried out very carefully and this technique cannot be used for infections, as this will only aggravate well-being.
If these techniques did not help, then you just need to wait a while for the pressure inside and outside to balance, and the discomfort will pass. However, in some cases, you need to contact an otolaryngologist, since damage caused by a difference in atmospheric pressure can be very dangerous. Be sure to consult a doctor ifif:
- soreness lasts for hours;
- dizzy;
- ringing in the ears;
- blood leaking from ear canal.
An additional provocative factor that leads to a pressure drop, as well as congestion, will be an allergy. You need to take an antihistamine before flying.
Foreign body hit
The ear has such a structure that it is very dangerous to try to remove a foreign body from the ear canal on your own, as you can accidentally damage the eardrum, which is fraught with deafness. However, you can try to do this with tweezers, but very carefully. It is best to visit an otolaryngologist who will perform the required procedure as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Ear plugs
If the ear is stuffed up but not painful, then a wax plug may be the cause. Accumulated dry earwax must be removed. It consists of the secretions of the sebaceous glands, sulfur and the epidermis. Under the influence of mechanical factors or moisture, the sulfur plug begins to swell. It clutters up the ear canal, and the person begins to hear poorly.
The main problem is that a person may not even be aware of the existing threat, but sometimes it feels like the ear is stuffed up, but does not hurt. In this case, hearing deteriorates only in some cases.
To remove sulfur plug, you can use 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. It is poured into the ear canal under pressure. This can be done with a syringe without a needle. peroxide helpssoften the accumulated sulfur masses. It is worth remembering that the syringe should not be pushed too deep, so as not to damage the eardrum.
The peroxide will sizzle as pieces of softened cerumen come out of the ear canal. You need to wait until the solution sizzles well, and then turn your head to the side so that it comes out completely. Remove peroxide and sulfur residues with a cotton swab. After the washing procedure, you can warm the ear with an incandescent lamp to dry it completely. A similar procedure should be carried out 2 times a week.
A weak solution of baking soda will also help fix the problem. To prepare it, you need to add 1 tsp. soda in 1 tbsp. warm water. After its application, hydrogen peroxide is instilled into the ear canal, then the cork is washed out with a syringe with water at room temperature. At the end of the procedure, boric alcohol is instilled into the ear for heating and disinfection. The procedure must be carried out 3 days in a row.
You can soften and remove the sulfur plug with warmed olive oil and glycerin. It is enough to instill 2-3 drops of the finished product into the ear canal, wait 5 minutes, and then remove the cork with a cotton swab. Everything must be done very carefully.
Stuffed up baby's ear
Every mother should know why this happens to a child: it stuffs the ears, but neither they nor the head hurt. As a rule, in such situations, timely assistance is always required. In some cases, congestion does not pose a serious threat tohe alth and quickly passes without any intervention. However, children's ears are more vulnerable to infections, so the occurrence of such symptoms should not be ignored.
If a child's ears are stuffed up, but do not hurt, then this may be due to anatomical anomalies, such as a deviated septum. In addition, a similar problem may be associated with insufficiently good hygiene and the characteristics of his body.
If the child's ears are blocked for no apparent reason, then it is imperative to undergo an examination that will determine the provoking factor. If a sulfuric plug is found, you can try to wash it with hydrogen peroxide or furatsilina solution.
With a runny nose and allergies, it is recommended to use vasoconstrictor nasal drops. Also, to get rid of mucus, it is worth doing washings, however, if only the discharge is not too dense. To eliminate puffiness, antihistamines are used. If the ears are blocked due to deformation of the eardrum, then the otolaryngologist may prescribe an operation.
Ear stuffing during pregnancy
Many women in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy periodically stuff their ears and hurt their eyes. This is due to hormonal changes and decreased immunity. An excess of hormones leads to the fact that there is an excessive accumulation of moisture, as a result of which the mucous membranes of the ears begin to swell. Puffiness provokes a decrease in the diameter of the auditory canal, which provokes a violation of the ventilation of the tympanic cavity. It makes me feeldiscomfort.
In addition, high blood pressure can provoke such a condition. If it is very high, then you need to take an antihypertensive drug. It is best to use vasodilators, in particular Validol. They are safe and help to effectively eliminate unpleasant symptoms. With reduced pressure, you need to take Citramon. You can also just drink a cup of strong tea.
Cold compresses can be used to relieve headaches and sore eyes. With a shooting attack in the temples and ears, warming up will help. Massage will help reduce the severity and soreness. It is enough to make circular movements with the fingertips for 5 minutes.
What not to do
Despite the fact that quite often you can eliminate congestion yourself, however, there are a number of manipulations that are strictly forbidden to do, namely:
- get into the ears with any objects;
- do jet washing;
- start antibiotic treatment without a doctor's prescription.
If the ear is stuffed up after a cold, but does not hurt, it is still strictly forbidden to warm up, as this can lead to an even greater aggravation of the infectious process and the development of complications.
Recommendations from experts
If an infection has penetrated into the ear and it is inflamed, constant headaches are felt, then you need to fight pathogens. For this, it is not recommended to select drugs on your own, since there are several types of infectious agents, both bacteria andand fungi.
In some cases, local treatment is required, in particular, taking drugs to increase immunity, as well as eliminate hormonal disorders. If after 2-3 days of attempts to independently eliminate stuffy ears, the problem does not go away, then you need to contact an otolaryngologist. Since only it will help to determine the root cause of the problem and prescribe treatment.
