A plugged ear often accompanies a common cold, causing discomfort and sometimes affecting hearing. This article explores the reasons for this sensation, offers practical advice for relief, and guides on when medical attention is necessary.
Understanding Why Your Ear Feels Plugged
The reason your ear feels plugged during a cold involves the Eustachian tube, a narrow canal connecting your middle ear to the back of your throat. This tube equalizes air pressure in the middle ear with the outside environment and drains fluid. It typically opens when you swallow or yawn, allowing air to enter and exit, maintaining balanced pressure.
When you have a cold, mucous membranes lining your nasal passages and throat become inflamed and swollen, increasing mucus. This inflammation and excess mucus can extend to and block the Eustachian tube. Consequently, air pressure in the middle ear cannot equalize with external pressure, causing fullness or pressure. The blockage can also cause fluid to accumulate in the middle ear, leading to a plugged sensation and muffled hearing.
Ways to Alleviate a Plugged Ear
Several techniques can help relieve a plugged ear during a cold. Swallowing, yawning, or chewing gum can encourage the Eustachian tubes to open, allowing pressure to equalize. You might hear a “pop” as the tubes open. A Valsalva maneuver, performed by taking a breath, pinching nostrils, and gently blowing out with your mouth shut, can also help open blocked tubes. It is important to blow gently to avoid damaging the eardrum.
Applying a warm compress to the affected ear can offer relief, as warmth soothes the Eustachian tubes and promotes drainage. Steam inhalation, by inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water or taking a hot shower, can reduce congestion in the nasal passages, which may help clear the Eustachian tubes. Over-the-counter nasal decongestants can reduce swelling in the nasal passages, potentially opening the Eustachian tubes. Always follow package directions for medication and consult a healthcare provider if you have pre-existing conditions or are considering use for children.
When to Consult a Doctor
While most plugged ears from a cold resolve as the illness subsides, certain symptoms warrant medical attention. Seek medical attention if you experience persistent or worsening ear pain, especially if severe or sharp. Fever, fluid draining from the ear, or significant hearing loss also warrant a doctor’s visit.
Dizziness or vertigo accompanying a plugged ear also warrants medical evaluation. These symptoms could indicate an ear infection, such as otitis media, or persistent fluid behind the eardrum, which may require diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications. If self-care methods do not improve symptoms after a few days, or if symptoms recur, professional medical advice is recommended.