If the ear is stuffed up, but it does not hurt, you must definitely establish the causes of this problem and conduct treatment. The choice of treatment methodology and its outcome largely depend on the provoking factor. It is best to immediately contact the otolaryngologist for a diagnosis if a problem occurs, since only a specialist will be able to make the correct diagnosis and select the appropriate treatment.
Main reasons
If the ear is blocked, but does not hurt, the reasons for this may be different. Based on the provoking factor, you can choose the most appropriate treatment. They may concern ear problems. And also a provoking factor may be indirect causes. These include:
- liquid penetrated when bathing;
- change in atmospheric pressure;
- pathology of the heart;
- sulfuric plugs;
- foreign body;
- runny nose;
- taking certain medications;
- pregnancy;
- curvature of the nasal septum.
If your head hurts and puts your ears in, then the cause of this may be the occurrence of infectious processes in the body. Pathogens that provoke it can get into the ear canal with a cold and a cold. This can provoke eustachitis, turbotitis, otitis media.
What may be the symptoms
The main symptomatology largely depends on the cause that provoked such a violation. If this is due to the penetration of foreign objects into the ear, the effects of atmospheric changes, and is also the result of other diseases, then two main symptoms should be distinguished among the main symptoms: headache and stuffy ears. In addition, there is a feeling of something superfluous, and there may also be dizziness.
If the main reason is the presence of an infection that has penetrated into the middle ear, then the signs will be difficulty swallowing, tingling, sharp pains and backache in the ear. Pus can stand out from the ear canal.
Diagnostics
If a similar problem is observed, then it is recommended to consult an otolaryngologist, since only he can determine exactly why the ear is stuffed up, but does not hurt. To assess the general condition of the patient, a specialist can prescribe procedures such as:
- audiometry;
- tympanometry;
- roentgenography;
- biopsy.
To exclude the presence of certain pathologies, the otolaryngologist can refer a person to narrow specialists. Consultation with a cardiologist or neurologist may be required.
Treatment
Many procedures to eliminate ear congestion can be done independently. If the reason for 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, then the liquid can provoke the development of infection and inflammation. You can remove water with a cotton swab.
In case of pressure drops, if the ear is stuffed up, but it does not hurt, you need to breathe deeply with your mouth. In this case, you need to swallow or try to yawn. The result is not long in coming. If a sulfur plug has formed, 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 stuffed up 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 cotton wool in your ear. When congestion is observed as a result of increased pressure, then therapy must necessarily be aimed at quickly eliminating the existing problems with the cardiovascular system, a simple cleaning of the ears is not enough. Depending on the severity of a person's condition, you can take drugs that lower blood pressure, or visit a doctor to prevent the development of complications.
The foreign body is removed using tweezers with a blunt tip. But you need to be very careful not to push it even further.
Liquid after bathing
If the ear is stuffed up, but does not hurt, then often 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 you want to speed up this process, you need to carefully push a piece of cotton wool into your ear, but not very deeply.
You can just lie with your ear on the pillow, having previously put a towel under it, and wait a while. Usually, the 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 contact a specialist.
Congestion after illness
If a person has a fever, lays ears, sore throat, then this may be a sign of 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 necessary, an anesthetic and even tell you which of the folk methods can be used. In the case of pus or its secretion, it is strictly forbidden to use alternative medicine, as they will provoke only a deterioration in well-being and the development of complications.
With infection, you can not independently perform warming up of the ears, as this can lead to rupture of the eardrum and even complete deafness. You should not use folk remedies for instillation on your own, as this can trigger the development of allergies and even more severe swelling. The maximum that can be done before visiting a specialist is to instill vasoconstrictor drops in the nose or take any antiallergenic drugs.
Stuffed ear after flight
Many tell how their ears became blocked after the flight: “It doesn’t hurt, but I don’t hear.” This happens due to the fact that there is a difference in atmospheric pressure, which negatively affects well-being. In this case, you usually do not need to do anything. It’s best to simply prevent such nasal congestion. To do this, during take-off you need to hold 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 is equalized.
If the ear is still blocked, then you can try to squeeze the wings of the nose strongly, as if you need to blow your nose, and exhale. However, all manipulations must be carried out very carefully and a similar technique can not be used for infections, as this will only aggravate well-being.
If these methods did not help, then you just need to wait a while, so that the pressure inside and outside comes into balance, and the discomfort will pass. However, in some cases, you need to contact the otolaryngologist, since damage caused by a drop in atmospheric pressure can be very dangerous. Be sure to consult a doctor if:
- soreness lasts several hours;
- dizziness is observed;
- tinnitus is heard;
- blood flows from the ear canal.
An additional provoking factor that leads to a pressure drop, as well as congestion, will be allergies. Before air travel, you need to take an antihistamine.
Foreign body hit
The ear has such a structure that it is very dangerous to try to extract a foreign body from the ear canal, since it is possible to accidentally damage the eardrum, which is fraught with deafness. However, you can try to do this with tweezers, but very carefully. It is best recommended to visit an otolaryngologist who will perform the required procedure as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Ear plugs
If the ear is blocked, but does not hurt, then the cause of this may be sulfur plug. Accumulated dry earwax must be removed. It consists of secretions of the sebaceous glands, sulfur and epidermis. Under the influence of mechanical factors or moisture, the sulfur plug begins to swell. It clutters 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 stuffy, but does not hurt. In this case, hearing deteriorates only in some cases.
A 3% hydrogen peroxide solution can be used to remove the sulfur plug. It is poured into the ear canal under pressure. This can be done with a syringe without a needle. Peroxide helps soften the accumulated sulfur masses. It is worth remembering that the syringe cannot be pushed too deep so as not to damage the eardrum.
The peroxide will hiss, with particles of softened sulfuric cork coming out of the ear canal. You need to wait for the solution to hiss well, and then turn your head on its side so that it comes out completely. Remove residual peroxide and sulfur with a cotton swab. After the washing procedure, you can warm the ear with an incandescent lamp for complete drying. A similar procedure should be carried out 2 times a week.
A weak baking soda solution will also help fix the problem. To prepare it, add 1 tsp. soda in 1 tbsp. warm water. After its application, hydrogen peroxide is instilled into the ear canal, then the plug is washed with a syringe with room temperature water. 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 cork with warmed olive oil and glycerin. It is enough to instill 2-3 drops of the finished product in the ear canal, wait 5 minutes, and then remove the cork with a cotton swab. Everything must be done very carefully.
Stuffy ear
Every mother should know why this happens with a child: it puts ears, but neither they nor the head hurt. As a rule, in such situations, assistance is always required in a timely manner. In some cases, congestion is not a serious threat to health and passes quickly without any intervention. However, children's ears are more vulnerable to infections, so do not ignore the occurrence of such symptoms.
If a child’s ears are blocked, but they don’t hurt, then this may be due to anatomical abnormalities, such as a curvature of the nasal 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 laid for no apparent reason, then it is imperative to undergo an examination that will determine the provoking factor. If sulfur cork is detected, you can try to wash it with hydrogen peroxide or a solution of furatsilina.
With a runny nose and allergies, it is recommended to use vasoconstrictor drops for the nose. Also, to get rid of mucus, it is worth doing rinses, however, if only the discharge is not too dense. Antihistamines are used to eliminate puffiness. If the ears are blocked due to deformation of the eardrum, the otolaryngologist may schedule an operation.
Stuffs the ear during pregnancy
In many women, in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, they periodically block their ears and sore eyes. This is due to hormonal changes and a decrease in 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. Swelling provokes a decrease in the diameter of the auditory canal, which provokes a violation of the ventilation of the tympanic cavity. It causes discomfort.
In addition, increased pressure can provoke such a condition. If it is very high, then you need to take a hypotensive agent. It is best to use vasodilator drugs, in particular Validol. They are safe and help effectively eliminate unpleasant symptoms. With reduced pressure, you need to take "Citramon". You can also just have a cup of strong tea.
To reduce headaches and soreness in the eyes, you can make a cold compress. With a shooting attack in the temples and ears, warming will help. Reduce the severity and pain will help massage. It is enough for 5 minutes to make circular movements with the fingertips.
What you should not do
Despite the fact that quite often you can independently eliminate congestion, however, there are a number of manipulations that are strictly forbidden to do, namely:
- crawl into your 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 carry out heating, as this can lead to an even greater aggravation of the infection process and the development of complications.
Recommendations of specialists
If an infection has penetrated into the ear and it has become inflamed, constant headaches are felt, then it is necessary to fight against pathogens. For this, it is not recommended to select drugs on their own, as there are several types of pathogens of infection, both bacteria and fungi.
In some cases, local treatment is required, in particular taking medications to increase immunity, as well as eliminate hormonal disorders. If after 2-3 days of trying to independently eliminate ear congestion, the problem persists, then you need to contact the otolaryngologist. Since only he will help determine the root cause of the problem and prescribe treatment.