A person’s nasopharynx is connected to the ear cavity with a special canal, which is called the Eustachian or auditory tube. Air moves through this channel and mucus accumulates in the tympanic cavity. In a healthy state, the auditory tube regulates the pressure from inside the ear cavity and equates it with atmospheric pressure. If suddenly the airspace ceases to pass freely through the auditory tube, the pressure is lost, and during this period a person begins to feel discomfort and stupor. How to treat ear congestion with and after a cold? We will talk about this later.
Causes
When a person has uncomfortable sensations in the ear, in rare cases it goes away on its own and does not have any serious consequences. But sometimes this stuffiness can be a symbol that the disease is developing. That is why it is recommended to consider several reasons why pain in the ear can occur.
- When a person has a cold or the flu, he often encounters the fact that he is blocking his ear. Often this happens on the one hand. In rare cases, it can lay both ears at once. The fact is that between him and his nose there is a connection that cannot be broken. Since the ear connects to the throat and the Eustachian tube, this design helps maintain optimal pressure in the nasopharynx. At the moment when inflammation of the mucous membrane occurs (for example, during a viral disease), air is blocked, which, in turn, can lead to temporary hearing loss. Basically, hearing loss in this case disappears after the patient recovers.
- Another common cause of congestion is a sharp change in pressure. Those people who suffer from hypertension, in case of dizziness, stuffiness in the ear, need to do to stabilize their pressure.
- Even stuffiness in the ear may appear as a result of swimming in the sea or taking a bath. This is due to the appearance of sulfur cork.
- If a person has sharp pains in the ear area, he has experienced migraines, itching and fever, this can symbolize a serious illness. The most common diseases with these symptoms are considered to be otitis media, allergies, inflammation of the Eustachian tube, or even a brain tumor.
As soon as the patient has one of the above symptoms, this indicates that it is necessary to pay attention to the state of your health. In almost all cases, doctors recommend immediately contacting a specialist, not to let the situation go by its own accord. After all, this can lead to serious consequences. If it is otitis media, then it will not pass on its own. Drug treatment is necessary under the supervision of a doctor. And in the worst case, inflammation of the auditory nerve can occur, which will lead to death.
Symptoms
If the patient has a strong stuffy ear appears at the moment when he has a cold, then the active development of otitis media begins. This disease is characterized by profuse discharge, severe pain, as well as the following manifestations:
- there is noise, ringing, hum, all this is given in the temporal cavity;
- there is a feeling of heaviness and an unbearable headache;
- body temperature rises;
- tingling appears in the ear, a person experiences discomfort at the time of chewing and swallowing;
- pain is observed in the temple or gives to the cheek;
- various areas of the face go numb;
- hyperthermia appears around the auricle;
- unpleasant pain occurs at the time of pressure on the sink;
- hearing loss occurs.
In order to prevent serious consequences, it is necessary to make a timely diagnosis of stuffy ear from a cold. Next, proceed with immediate treatment. This disease should not be left to chance, because this can lead to very serious consequences.
Diagnostics
The feeling in the ears that arose as a result of the disease, in any case, requires contacting the appropriate doctor. A similar condition can also be accompanied by an increase in temperature, causing dizziness and severe headaches. This suggests that intoxication is occurring, and an infection specialist consultation is urgently needed.
In order to diagnose the disease, the doctor conducts an external examination of the shell. So he identifies the affected area. In case of suspected otitis media or other diseases, a blood test is prescribed. All this is necessary to determine the pathogen.
Audiometry is performed to determine hearing acuity. It is carried out using a special apparatus. The result, which is obtained during the examination, allows us to conclude what condition the middle ear is in.
Otoscopy is an examination of the ear canal. During the procedure, an assessment of the effectiveness of its work is carried out, and the area of inflammation is also determined. This manipulation is the most effective, it allows you to determine the disease in a patient at any age.
Drug treatment
As soon as the fact has been established that after a cold, the patient is laying his ears, it is necessary to immediately begin treatment. But how to get rid of stuffy ear with a cold? How to treat this disease? First of all, in order for the patient to feel much better, it is necessary to get rid of the mucous discharge from the nasal cavity. To eliminate fluid secretions from the nose, you must first blow your nose and then start washing.
In order to treat the stuffy ears with a cold and rinse your nose, you need saline. This fluid is prepared on its own. You can also buy it ready-made at the pharmacy. For the washing procedure, you will need a regular syringe without a needle. Saline is collected in it. After this, you need to tilt your head to the side and pour a portion of the fluid into one nostril. The procedure is repeated on the other side. After the liquid has got into the nose, it must be blowed.
At this point, you should pay attention to whether there is pain or congestion in the ears began to increase at the time of washing. If so, then you must stop the procedure. To eliminate nasal congestion, only vasoconstrictive drops will be required.
It was a procedure that can be done at home. Next, you will need to go to a specialist who will advise about the medical treatment of ear congestion after a cold. Therapy continues with the use of not just one, but a whole range of drugs.
It is important to remember that in no case should you use the medications yourself without consulting a doctor. After all, you do not know exactly which drug will be effective in a particular case. Improper medication can damage health or aggravate the disease. In order to start drug therapy, it is first necessary to visit a qualified specialist. He will be able to conduct a full inspection, make a conclusion. Only after this a treatment regimen is drawn up.
If as a result of the examination it was found that the cause of the disease state is infectious inflammation, then basically the doctor prescribes a standard treatment regimen. In this case, vasoconstrictor drops, solutions, tinctures made on the basis of sea water are used. If the patient has intolerance to the drugs prescribed by the doctor, then in this case the medical specialist will amend the treatment regimen and change the drugs to others. He also prescribes ear drops and ointments, which will help accelerate the removal of edema, as well as to eliminate pathogens.
For example, if the inflammatory process in the ears has led to otitis media, then the treatment regimen is described below:
- A drug that will eliminate unpleasant, painful sensations.
- A drug that performs antibacterial actions that removes the focus of inflammation, for example, Normax.
- If the patient is diagnosed with chronic otitis media, then in this case, the doctor prescribes Otofu.
- If the patient has severe shooting pains, otitis media has been determined, in this case, the doctor prescribes Otipax.
It is possible to remove ear congestion in colds with the help of heat therapy. This approach to eliminate troubles in the ears is quite dangerous, so you should not do the procedure yourself. This is only possible on the recommendation of a doctor.
The essence of the procedure is that it is necessary to create dry heat. This is done with a compress. The presented procedure can be performed only if there is no high temperature, suppuration, as well as perforation of the tympanic membrane.
If one of these contraindications is present, doctors categorically forbid the use of the presented technique. If the patient complains of fever, it is necessary to drink "Nurofen", and only if it exceeded 38 degrees. It is strictly forbidden to use compresses for warming up in the presence of such a condition, this extremely negatively affects the state of health.
Treating these unpleasant symptoms during pregnancy
During the period of bearing a child, women may experience an unpleasant sensation in the ears. This symptom may result from a cold or a common cold. There are frequent cases when the appearance of congestion in the ears in pregnant women is normal. In this case, a pressure drop is observed. Most often, pregnant women complain of congestion in the right ear, which is caused by a cork. To eliminate the provoking factor, you need to contact the ENT. This is a doctor who gently using a special tool without any pain, removes the sulfur plug and rinses his ear.
Nasal congestion in pregnant women also appears as a result of a pressure drop, which, in turn, leads to swelling of the mucosa. However, doctors do not recommend the use of vasoconstrictor drops. These drugs are dangerous during the period of bearing a child. Sometimes for pregnant women who suffer from congestion in the ears, an excellent method of treatment is regular chewing gum. At the time of the chewing process, pressure is stabilized and congestion passes.
If, nevertheless, the pregnant woman managed to get sick, she has inflammation of the nasopharynx, unpleasant sensations in the form of congestion appear, and headaches begin.
In this case, a woman should immediately contact a specialist who will conduct an examination and observation. Already starting from the information received during the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment that will be harmless to the child. Pregnant women need to be very responsible for the need for timely treatment, because any complications can affect not only the health of the mother, but also the health of the unborn baby. Self-medication is very harmful and dangerous for any person.
Alternative treatment
Fortunately, it is possible to remove ear congestion in colds not only with the help of pharmacy products. Traditional medicine knows several secrets. One of the most popular recipes is warm salt wrapped in a waffle towel and attached to the ear. Such warming must be done before bedtime until the moment of congestion.
To get rid of discomfort, you can also use olive oil. Before using this product, it must be heated in a water bath. After that, warm oil is pipetted and instilled into each ear. After the oil is dripped into the ear, it must be covered with cotton wool and a warm scarf wound. This unusual compress is recommended to walk for about 30 minutes.
Traditional medicine recommends using this compress 3 times a day until a full recovery occurs. Often you can find alternative treatment with an antibiotic. A clove of garlic is taken as such a preparation. Juice is squeezed out of it, 3 drops of camphor oil are added there. The resulting fluid must be applied to the cotton wool and installed in the ear canal. Leave the product for 20 minutes. The medicine warms up the shell well, reduces inflammation.
Special massage and exercises
Sometimes, stuffy ears remain if rhinitis has already passed. This means that the disease is not completely cured. It is necessary to further rinse and bury the nose. What to do with congestion in the ears with a cold and after without pain? In order to reduce the inflammatory process and normalize the pressure in the Eustachian tube, it is advisable to massage the outer ear and jaw.
To correctly perform it, you must carefully rub in a circular motion behind the ear in a clockwise direction for a couple of minutes. Then it is also necessary to develop the jaw. In conclusion, it would not hurt to massage the wings of the nose, nose bridge and temples well. If you have stuffed your ears with a cold, ballooning and jaw movements that depict chewing can help overcome the problem.
Quick improvement often gives a special exercise. It is necessary to draw in as much air as possible, pinch the nose with two fingers, exhale through the nasal passage and swallow several times. High air pressure forms in the ears, a typical cotton is heard, and congestion will end. After a while, it may appear again if rhinitis and inflammation in the Eustachian tube are not eliminated.
Can I warm my ears with stuffiness?
Of course, the warming process is distinguished by a huge number of positive therapeutic properties that contribute to a better and faster healing of a person. However, not every time you can use this remedy for ear congestion with a cold and after without pain. We will analyze when it is allowed, and when there is no procedure presented, so as not to worsen the condition of the patient.
When is it possible?
Warming is indicated for:
- External otitis media, if the healing phase begins.
- Catarrhal otitis media flowing in the middle ear cavity during the cure period.
- At the initial stages of the formation of the inflammatory process, provided that the main root cause that provoked suppuration is eliminated.
When is it impossible?
Warming up is harmful in the following situations:
- Purulent inflammation. The warming process dilates the blood vessels, and also significantly improves blood microcirculation. In this case, it will negatively affect the patient's condition, i.e., the threat of the spread of bacteria and their invasion into the general bloodstream increases several times.
- Tumor. If the doctor suspects that a neoplasm is located in the area of inflammation, in this case, any heating will be harmful, since under the influence of heat the neoplasm cells will multiply rapidly, which will lead to a worsening of the condition.