Table of contents:
- Various causes of ear congestion
- 1. The inner ear canal becomes blocked
- 2. Being in a certain place
- 3. Ears full of dirt
- 4. Acoustic neuroma
- 5. There are foreign objects that enter can also cause ear congestion
Maybe you often feel like your ears are clogged. Although not necessarily a sign of a disease, this condition will still make you uncomfortable. Sounds from the environment seem muffled and less clear. In some cases, this condition will just go away quickly. However, there are also those who feel like their ears are clogged for days. Actually, what causes this clogged ear?
Various causes of ear congestion
1. The inner ear canal becomes blocked
Blockage in the eustachian tube is one possible cause. This eustachian tube connects the ear to the throat. Fluid and mucus will flow from the ear to the back of the throat through this channel.
However, instead of draining down the throat, fluid and mucus can sometimes get trapped in the middle ear and make the ear feel blocked. This blockage usually occurs during the common cold, influenza, sinusitis, or during an infection. Allergic rhinitis can also cause blockages in these eustachian tubes.
Symptoms of a blockage caused by an infection or allergy include:
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
Opening the blockage of the eustachian tube is very important because trapped fluid can cause ear infections if left alone.
2. Being in a certain place
Ear congestion can also be caused by changes in environmental pressure that occur rapidly, as a result, affecting the closure of the eustachian tube, known as barotrauma.
When this pressure difference occurs, the body will try to adapt. Together with the ear drum, the eustachian tube helps equalize external pressure with the middle ear and outer ear. It is this adjustment that results in the eustachian tube having to close, as a result of which people feel clogged in their ears.
Some of the people who can experience this blockage are people who do scuba diving, climb mountains, travel by plane, or go to places with high altitude.
Although this is something that is normal, but it is quite disturbing. The higher the place, the more difficult it is for the ear to adapt to equalizing the pressure in the middle ear.
The best way to prevent barotrauma is to swallow, chew or yawn frequently. These methods can open the auditory canal, allowing outside air to enter the ear. You can also use a decongestant if you are having trouble with the obstruction that is bothersome.
Medicines you can use one hour before the flight starts. Or for those of you who have allergies, use your allergy medicine one hour before the trip starts.
3. Ears full of dirt
The production of wax or earwax is important to prevent debris from entering the ear. However, if the ears are producing too much wax, this could be a problem.
Excessive production of wax or earwax can make your ears feel clogged. Some people experience this overproduction, whereas normally the ears have their own cleaning system and the wax production doesn't clog up.
Therefore, people who experience excessive earwax production, it is better if cleaning regularly at the doctor to take this soft wax. Because if you do the cleaning of your own ears using cutton bud, it is feared that the dirt can be pushed inward and touch the eardrum. Symptoms of this condition include:
- Earache
- Ears buzzing
- Dizzy
4. Acoustic neuroma
Acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor that develops on the cranial nerves that lead from the ear into the brain. These tumors are usually slow growing and small in size.
However, over time these tumors can become large and will put pressure on the inner ear nerves. This pressure can later make the ears feel clogged, the hearing decreases, and the ears feel buzzing.
5. There are foreign objects that enter can also cause ear congestion
A foreign object that gets into the ear can also cause the ear to feel clogged. This condition can occur in young children who put things in their ears out of curiosity or dare to follow what they see. Therefore, children need good supervision so that this does not happen. A foreign object usually doesn't have a fever or any cold symptoms unless the object has been blocked long enough to cause an infection.
You can also use a flashlight to make sure that the child's ears are fine. Never stick a sharp object inside the ear to remove the foreign object.
