What to do if your ear is blocked after rinsing your nose?

Everyone knows that the ear is the organ responsible for the perception of sounds. But its function is also to maintain balance. However, sometimes a person loses his hearing ability or begins to experience unpleasant symptoms. Therefore, he tries to quickly find the cause and eliminate it.

But finding the factor causing pain and deafness is not easy. After all, a similar clinical picture accompanies many ENT diseases. Moreover, discomfort can arise not only due to illness, but also due to injury, swimming or hypothermia. One of the common causes of hearing loss is the accumulation of wax in the ear canal. The resulting sulfur plug is removed by washing. However, sometimes the patient discovers that after removing the wax plug, the ear is blocked. What to do in such a situation and what are the causes of complications?

Hearing hygiene

Hearing hygiene is a set of measures that are aimed at maintaining the quality of hearing “in its original state.” Ears should be protected from a young age and not allowed to:

supercool;
be exposed to sudden changes in pressure;
become infected;
get injured;
be exposed to excessive water.

Some of them will cause harm by doing this. They either push the wax down where it can't clean itself and they need to get professional care, or they traumatize the canal so it bleeds or hurts, or they make small scratches and bacteria get in and cause an infection. As mentioned, as part of the body's normal processes, earwax cleans itself up—it was designed that way. In fact, simple normal jaw movements such as eating, yawning and talking all help transfer the ear stripe to the outer ear.

All you really need to do is regular cleaning of the outer ear with a washcloth. So why take the risk if removing it could cause harm? When an ear wound affects it, it can cause a number of problems, resulting in the need to remove them. Accumulated ear damage can cause the ear canal to become blocked, leading to a range of symptoms. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it may be a clue that needs to be removed.

Stuffed ear

If your ear is blocked after cleaning with a cotton swab, you first need to determine the cause of the problem. The doctor then makes a diagnosis and prescribes appropriate treatment.

The following are the causes of ear congestion:

Sulfur plug. If the patient’s actions did not clean the ear, but pushed the resulting wax plug closer to the eardrum, the doctor tries to cleanse the ear canal using special tools.
Infection. The cause of congestion may be an infection caused by injury while cleaning the ear. Treatment in this case is medication.
Water ingress. When swimming or diving, water may enter the ear. Improper cleaning leads to inflammation of the external passage, which is also treated with medication.

The consequences of improper hygiene can be very sad. Symptoms of minor injuries disappear within a few minutes after medical intervention.

Although you may have heard or wondered about something called ear candling, this method is not recommended as it can be dangerous. It involves placing a hollow cone-shaped device or "candle", usually made of cotton or linen soaked in wax or paraffin, into the ear canal and then lighting it. Doesn't seem like such a good idea, does it? Well, surprisingly, a lot of people do it.

The person undergoing the procedure lies on their side and a collection device, such as a paper plate, is placed over the ear. The candle is inserted through a hole in the plate into the ear canal. The candle is then lit and trimmed as it burns. Once the candle is burned, it is removed from the ear and a cotton swab is used to clean off any visible wax, while oil is sometimes applied as a finishing touch. It is said to be effective when the wax moves down the candle and into the ear and then back again.

The situation is worse for those who, through their spontaneous actions, caused swelling of the ear and caused an infection. In this case, mechanical damage to the ear can lead to serious complications, partial hearing loss or deafness.

Water ingress while visiting the pool, or the inability to clear the ear canals from water ingress is another reason to contact a specialist. In theory, water should flow out of the ear canal on its own. But each person is individual.
During the process, proponents say a vacuum is created to pull wax and other debris out of the ear and into the hollow candles. Ear candling is essentially a dangerous, ill-conceived and potentially disfiguring protocol that lacks fundamental knowledge of science. He further added: The candle demonstrates ignorance of the basic laws of physics and a blatant disregard for anatomy and physiology.
There were also numerous reports of injuries, including cases of candle wax blocking the ear canal, perforations in the eardrum, and external burns. Earwax blockages can be caused by a number of factors, including. Pressing something into the ears that pushes ear wax inside the ear canal, such as cotton swabs, and also things such as ear plugs. Often with headsets, such as when listening to music for long periods of time - this can prevent ear wax from naturally coming out of the ear when the headset blocks it. Using cotton swabs or other items to clean your ears. . If you experience severe buildup or blockage, there are several ways to safely remove it.

Reasons for blocked ears after cleaning them

Our body is designed in such a way that it does not need much help in the process of getting rid of unnecessary components. The same can be said about earwax. The human ear is designed in such a way that excess wax gradually accumulates near the ear canal itself, and it can simply be removed with a swab without penetrating deep into it. And the main mistake of most people is the idea that to remove wax, you need to use an ear stick.

When cleaning the ears with a stick, for the most part, the passages are not cleansed, but on the contrary, the wax descends deeper and deeper, and ear plugs form.

Under no circumstances should you use items such as:

Cotton swabs or any other cotton swabs.
Just cotton wool wrapped around a match (many people prefer to do it this way). In addition to increasing the risk of blocking the ear canal, it also increases the risk that some of the cotton wool will remain inside the ear.
Hairpin. A person may not always have a cotton swab at hand, and therefore a hairpin is used, which not only compacts the sulfur, but also injures the surface.

Sometimes the reason may lie in the inflammatory process, which began as a result of improper hygiene procedures. It is not uncommon to experience minor damage to the skin when cleaning your ears. It is in this area that the process of inflammation begins, which is simply impossible to notice immediately. And after a few days, the ear may become so blocked that it requires treatment with antibiotics.

Any otolaryngologist tells each of his patients that you can only clean your ears from the outside, that is, without penetrating deep into the ear canal.

You can only remove excess sulfur, which, due to physiological characteristics, gradually flows out.

How to remove cotton wool from your ear and why a foreign object is dangerous

If, however, there is a need to remove wax and wax plug that has formed inside the ear, then you only need to contact a doctor, who, using special solutions, will do this using an absolutely safe method.

How to get rid of congestion

Algorithm of actions after water ingress:

Tilt your head to let the water flow out. Wait.
If the water does not flow out on its own, prepare a cotton swab.
Don't push the stick too far.
Pull your earlobe.
Open your mouth.
Gently blot the stick and remove it immediately.
If unsuccessful, consult a doctor.

What to do if you were cleaning your ears and your ear is blocked? Firstly, it is not recommended to self-medicate. Secondly, if you have lost your hearing after improper cleaning, then you need to make an appointment with a specialist. Based on the symptoms and visually, he will be able to determine how to cure the disease and restore the ability to hear.

But remember, if you still have symptoms after asking for them, or your symptoms are particularly severe, be sure to visit your healthcare provider. To use this method, mix a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water until it dissolves completely before use. When there are no visible salt chunks, use the dropper to soak up the solution and then tilt your ear to the side so that you place it in your ear. Add five drops to the problem ear and then hold this position for a few minutes to make sure it goes into the ear canal.

When water gets into the ear canal, the wax that has accumulated there swells and congestion occurs.

What can you do at home?

What can you do to get rid of the unpleasant sensations of “gurgling” and tinnitus? There are those patients who, having pushed through the sulfur plug, set up a “mini-hospital” in their own bathroom. To remove excess wax, they use a syringe with untreated water. But such washing only contributes to further blockage of the hearing organ.

Now tilt your head in the opposite direction so that the salt water solution can flow naturally along with the ear wax. Use a towel under your ear to avoid any mess. You may need to repeat this process several times to prevent blocking.

You will need about half a teaspoon of extra virgin and a dropper. Squeeze olive oil into your dropper and then tilt your head to the side and add a few drops of oil to the affected ear. Then hold your head in this position to allow the oil to seep out for at least a few minutes. Then turn your head the other way to allow the olive oil to drain. With this method, make sure your head is resting on some type of fabric or paper towel to avoid staining the fabric.

Under no circumstances should you poke into the ear canal with matches, hairpins, pencils or other objects. It is only allowed to make massage movements with your fingers and try to blow out your ears yourself.

Ear blowing is allowed

As before, it is best to repeat this several times to remove excess ear wax. It has been considered an effective ingredient for earwax removal for many years. This is because the hydrogen peroxide helps the wax bubble and causes the wax to become softer. It can also help break up any particles that may be stuck.

To use this method, you will need about two teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide, a teaspoon of warm water, and a dropper. Mix water and hydrogen peroxide together and use a dropper to place the solution into your problem ear. After a few minutes, tilt your head to the other side and let the liquid flow out. Repeat this process several times to ensure locking.

Algorithm of actions when blowing ears:

Cover your nose with your fingers.
Inhale through your mouth.
Exhale sharply through your nose.

Attention! A deep yawn will help relieve ear congestion. Active swallowing and chewing also helps.

Visiting a doctor and taking medications

When your ear hurts after cleaning with a cotton swab, you can’t do without a doctor. Depending on the situation, he will conduct x-rays, audiometry and make a diagnosis. For example, when the ears are clogged due to cerumen, drops of Remo-Vax or A-cerumen are prescribed.

Visiting a doctor and taking medications

The solution will help dissolve the ear wax, while the rubbing alcohol will help dry up any liquid that may remain on the ears.
In addition, vinegar contains compounds that help get rid of bacteria that can contribute to earwax blocking. Hill recommends shaking a mixture of one part white vinegar to one part, although he also doesn't recommend flushing the liquid into the ear canal since some people have holes in their ear drums. Hill explained that if there is a hole in the ear drum and infected fluid is injected into the middle ear, it can cause a "really serious infection." Sterile cotton wool soaked in hydrogen peroxide will also save you from short-term illness. It is left in the ear for several hours until the wax plug is completely dissolved.

An audiologist performs audiometry - measuring hearing acuity, determining auditory sensitivity to sound waves of different frequencies.

Medicines prescribed by a specialist may be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and analgesic. Antibiotics are sometimes used to treat hearing-related diseases.

For this method, mix one part vinegar and one part rubbing alcohol into a container with a lid so you can shake it. Make sure you use equal parts of each and shake the container well. Now use a cotton swab and soak it into the solution or use a dropper to lift the solution. Using either, you will need to squeeze a few drops of the mixture into your ear after tilting your head to the side as the previous methods prescribed. After a few minutes, tilt your head to the other side to allow the solution to drain using the ear wax.

More often, doctors use physical therapy. Electrophoresis helps not only eliminate unpleasant symptoms, but also completely restore hearing.

Causes of stuffy ears

The ear becomes clogged for many reasons. They can be divided into two categories: natural and physiological. And before treating congestion, it is worth finding out the cause of this phenomenon. The main reasons why ears are blocked are as follows:

Sudden changes in pressure. If your ears become blocked as a result of moving in a high-speed elevator, on an attraction, or while flying by air, then this may happen due to a sharp jump in pressure (due to high-speed movement from top to bottom). In this case, normal hearing may be restored within a few minutes after you swallow your saliva.
Presence of water in the ear canal. If after bathing you feel water gurgling in your ear, try gently removing it with a special cotton swab. Just don’t push it deep inside, pull your earlobe, open your mouth and gently blot the water. Or wait a little. Usually the water flows out of the ears on its own.
Accumulation of wax plugs in the ear canal. This reason is one of the most common causes of ear congestion. Traffic jams appear gradually: sulfur accumulates, “clumps” form and the quality of hearing deteriorates. They can appear regardless of age category. The cause of their occurrence is a violation of the care of the external auditory canal, improper rinsing of the ears.
Improper cleaning of the ear canal. Often, intensive “picking” with cotton swabs (or even hairpins) in the ears does not remove wax. On the contrary, it is pushed deep into the ear, forming an even larger plug.

This phenomenon occurs due to various reasons and factors and lasts for different periods of time: from several minutes to several weeks. It is important to find out the causes and eliminate them, and then treat the swelling itself inside the hearing aid.

Prevention

Doctors advise to be careful and rely only on qualified medical care. At home, it is recommended to carry out some hygiene measures. For example, a modern method is vegetable oil.

You can use a cotton swab to remove any ear wax that may be on your outer ear. According to recent research, 36 percent of adults use cotton buds to clean their ears, and most of them know it's potentially dangerous. One in six respondents knew someone who had suffered fetal damage. While getting stuck inside the ear—the most common problem—is rarely serious, regular use can lead to skin irritation, infection, and permanent hearing loss.

“In most cases, waxing is really good for the ear,” says Simon Baer, consultant ear and nose and throat surgeon at Conquist Hospital in Hastings. This causes foreign bodies to stick to it, preventing them from going further into the ear, and has antibacterial properties. Removal is similar to removing wax from the surface of polished wood furniture. This makes the thin underlying skin of the ear more susceptible to infection.

Doctors advise patients to put one or two drops of an astringent liquid into their ears. Firstly, they perform an excellent moisturizing function. Secondly, they have excellent “contact” with sulfur. Excess sulfur will flow out spontaneously.

If you often suffer from ear congestion after swimming and diving, it is recommended to use caps and earplugs. They protect the hearing organs from water.
The wax consists of a mixture of exfoliated skin and secretions and is produced in the outer third of the ear canal. Some people produce large amounts, which can affect hearing, especially if the wax becomes waterlogged and expands—for example, after swimming. Excessive ear waxing tends to run in families. This is best treated by keeping the ears warm with warm water under the supervision of a doctor.
How to get rid of congestion
“Removing wax with a bud can irritate the skin of the ear,” says Mr. Baer. This makes people spin even more, so they end up in a vicious circle. Even the most experienced cotton-bud user, like a soldier, pushing gunpowder down the cannon will usually push up a significant amount of wax and also remove some of it. They lower the bud into the ear so that it ends up on a part of the ear where it shouldn't be and can affect hearing.

When answering the question of what to do to avoid ear congestion after cleaning, many medical specialists advise their patients to carry out preventive measures at home: clean their ears with hydrogen peroxide once or twice a week.

To do this, prepare a solution at the rate of 10-15 drops per tablespoon and take a piece of cotton wool.

Then the lotion is left in the ear canal for several minutes. After the procedure, you need to wipe the ear canal dry.

Prevention of ear diseases includes timely removal of excess water from the ear canal. It assumes that the patient does not allow hypothermia and self-medication, especially through mechanical impact with various objects.

Even after complete recovery, the patient should cover the ear with sterile cotton wool. Prevention is an important condition for maintaining the quality of hearing.

Thus, it is unacceptable to clean your ears with cotton swabs at home. They are considered tools that, in the wrong hands, can cause injury and cause further ear blockage. This article lists other but more effective remedies for removing wax from ears. Use them and be healthy!

Ear congestion after cleaning indicates non-compliance with the rules of the hygienic procedure. When using cotton swabs, metal objects and matches, there is a risk of mechanical damage to the eardrum and skin in the ear canal. Subsequently, inflammation occurs in the outer ear, which leads to a narrowing of the lumen in the ear canal and, accordingly, hearing impairment.

If, after cleaning your ear with a cotton swab, your ear becomes blocked, you need to make sure that there are no perforated holes in the eardrum. Damage to the membrane can be signaled by sharp and shooting pain in the ear, significant hearing loss and serous discharge. If unpleasant symptoms are detected, you need to be examined by an otolaryngologist, who, using an otoscope, can certainly determine the extent of damage in the ear canal and membrane.

About the structure of the external ear

The outer ear is represented by the eardrum, the pinna and the ear canal, which consists of two sections. The first section (membranous-cartilaginous) is located closer to the auricle. It contains a large number of hairs, sebaceous and sulfur glands that produce sulfur and natural fat. There are no hairs or glands in the bony part located near the eardrum, so the skin there is more susceptible to injury.

According to experts, regular cleaning of earwax only helps to reduce local immunity. The liquid secretion has pronounced antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which prevents pathogens from penetrating deep into the ear. Ear cleaning changes the pH level in the ear canal, which increases the risk of pathogens entering the soft tissue.

The bony and membranous cartilaginous sections are connected to each other by a narrow isthmus. If hygienic procedures are carried out incorrectly, wax masses are pushed inside the ear, beyond the isthmus, which subsequently leads to the formation of plugs. The cork creates a mechanical barrier to the passage of sound signals, which contributes to hearing impairment and a feeling of congestion.

As epidermal cells grow, wax masses are independently evacuated from the ear canal.

My ear is blocked after cleaning, what should I do? First of all, you need to establish the main cause of discomfort. Often, inept hygienic manipulations lead to tissue injury or the formation of dense plugs in the ear canal, resulting in a feeling of stuffiness.

Uncomfortable sensations can be caused by:

It is not recommended to use cotton swabs to clean the ear canals. During their use, the likelihood of pushing wax into the bony part of the ear canal increases many times over.

Damage to the skin in the bone and cartilaginous parts of the outer ear contributes to a decrease in local immunity. This leads to the active proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms, the waste products of which provoke tissue inflammation. Swelling of the ear canal contributes to a decrease in the hearing threshold and a feeling of stuffiness.

Elimination of congestion

Uncomfortable sensations can be caused by:

penetration of water deep into the ear;
blockage of the ear canal with cotton wool;
damage to the eardrum;
formation of sulfur plugs;
injury to the skin in the ear canal.

It is not recommended to use cotton swabs to clean the ear canals. During their use, the likelihood of pushing wax into the bony part of the ear canal increases many times over.

In some cases, even after removing the plug, ear congestion does not go away. What is this connected with? Complete blockage of the ear canal causes pressure in the outer ear to decrease, causing the eardrum to bulge. Its stretching leads to disturbances in the conduction of sound signals due to the inability of the membrane to resonate signals entering the ear.

You can relieve discomfort using the following methods:

close your mouth and, holding the wings of your nose with your hand, try to exit through your nose;
with your nose closed, make 5-6 swallowing movements;
massage your temples to provoke a deep yawn.

During swallowing and yawning, the mouth of the Eustachian tube opens, thereby leveling the pressure difference in the tympanic cavity and the outer ear. This helps eliminate deformations in the eardrum and, accordingly, eliminate the feeling of stuffiness.

Ear rinsing by an ENT doctor

Regular cleansing of the ear canal from wax leads to its compaction and pushing behind the isthmus in the ear canal. This contributes to the formation of dense plugs, which contribute to complete blockage of the lumen in the ear canal. What to do if your ear is blocked after cleaning?

To relieve discomfort, you should seek help from an otolaryngologist. After a visual examination and assessment of the condition of the eardrum, the doctor will suggest rinsing the blocked ear. For this, a Janet syringe with a portion of heated saline solution is often used. The liquid is injected into the outer ear, after which the wax is quite easily removed from the ear canal.

After the procedure, sterile cotton wool must be placed in the outer ear to prevent the penetration of pathogens.

For preschool children, the ears are washed with Rivanol or Furacilin. The preparations contain components that contribute to the rapid softening of sulfur. In this way, it is possible to significantly reduce the duration of the entire procedure and eliminate the possibility of damage to the ear canal.

Self-removal of wax

I was cleaning my ears and my ear was blocked, what should I do? If discomfort is caused by a blockage of the ear canal with wax, you can try to remove it yourself. To avoid complications, when performing hygienic procedures you need to follow a few simple rules:

heat the 3% hydrogen peroxide solution to 37 degrees;
soak a cotton swab in the solution and clean the ear of dirt;
drop 2-3 drops of hydrogen peroxide into the sore ear;
Plug the ear canal with cotton wool for 5-6 minutes;
dilute 1 tsp in 250 ml of warm water. potassium permanganate;
draw the heated solution with potassium permanganate into a syringe;
pour liquid into the ear to wash out the softened plug;
dry the ear canal using a cotton pad.

If the procedure is successful, the congestion goes away completely, and surrounding sounds become louder and clearer.

You can relieve discomfort using the following methods:

During swallowing and yawning, the mouth of the Eustachian tube opens, thereby leveling the pressure difference in the tympanic cavity and the outer ear. This helps eliminate deformations in the eardrum and, accordingly, eliminate the feeling of stuffiness.

When to go to the doctor?

What should you do if you cleaned your ear and it’s blocked? Hearing loss in some cases signals the occurrence of injuries in the ear canal or membrane. Swelling and inflammation of the tissue leads to narrowing of the ear canal and deterioration of hearing. Untimely elimination of pathogenic flora is fraught with the development of diffuse otitis, myringitis, etc.

Indications for seeking help from an ENT doctor will be:

ear pain;
purulent discharge;
tinnitus;
hearing loss;
swelling of the ear;
ear bleeding.

Important! The length of the external ear canal is 25 mm. Cleaning with cotton swabs, matches and metal pins may damage the membrane.

The above symptoms may indicate the occurrence of catarrhal processes not only in the outer ear, but also in the middle ear. When otitis media becomes chronic, otorrhea occurs, which prevents the eardrum from regenerating. This contributes to the development of persistent hearing loss, which can subsequently only be corrected with tympanoplasty.

What drops should I use if my ear is blocked after cleaning? It is immediately worth noting that topical drugs can be used to treat inflammatory processes only on the recommendation of a doctor. Some types of medicinal solutions contain components that have a local irritant effect. For this reason, they should not be instilled into the ear canals if there are perforated holes in the ear membrane.

It is advisable to use ear drops for:

In order to eliminate pathogens and local manifestations of the disease, drops of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antifungal and antiviral action are used as part of pharmacotherapy.

Fluid in the middle ear

If, when rinsing the nose, liquid gets through the auditory tube into the middle ear, it is important to know what to do to avoid complications. Complications are indicated by the appearance of pain, congestion, the feeling that there is a lot of water in the ear, and it is overflowing and gurgling. If the procedure is performed correctly, the liquid comes out quickly and naturally. If an error occurs somewhere, this can cause the following complications:

eustitis – inflammation of the auditory tube. Main symptoms: stuffy ear, feeling of transfusion, decreased hearing, tinnitus;
Otitis media is an infectious disease, inflammation of the middle ear. Accompanied by the following symptoms: temporary hearing loss, temperature;
myringitis is an inflammatory process on the eardrum. This can be caused by microorganisms entering the middle ear;
Epitympanitis is a disease accompanied by inflammation of the middle ear. When this disease occurs frequently, the auditory ossicles are destroyed. As a result, hearing problems arise.

Review of drugs

If you were cleaning your ear and it got blocked, what should you do? When sulfur plugs form, experts recommend using cerumenolytics. Preparations in this group contain surface active components that help soften sulfur due to its hydration. After instilling a few drops of the solution into the ear canal, the plug dissolves on its own and flows out of the external auditory canal.

To eliminate inflammatory processes, the following types of ear drops can be used:

"Otipax" is a drug with analgesic and antiseptic action, which is used for the treatment of external, middle and;
"Otinum" - drops of disinfecting and antiphlogistic action, used to treat inflammatory processes in the outer and middle ear;
"Garazon" is a glucocorticosteroid agent with a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect; used to treat bacterial inflammation in the skin and mucous membranes of the ENT organs.