Causes of ear congestion without pain

Symptomatic picture of the disease

In most cases, this condition occurs as a result of the presence of foreign substances in the organ channel: sulfur, sweat.
In case your ears are constantly blocked without painful sensations, it is worth assessing the quality of your personal hygiene. When its level is insufficient, many negative conditions develop. A symptom called “stuffed ear” occurs due to swelling of the Eustachian tube. This is a common problem, since all ENT organs (nose, ears and throat) are located quite close to each other, especially in young children. The Eustachian tube serves as a kind of “connecting link” between the nasal cavity and the middle ear.

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Such a symptom during or immediately after a cold may be accompanied by additional problems such as:

• Noise in ears;
• Slight redness of the ears;
• “Tingling” in the ears;
• Discomfort with sharp sounds;
• Feeling of numbness in the skin of the ears or around them;
• Feeling of “heaviness” in the head;
• Dizziness.

As night approaches, mild pain and fever may develop. This problem will not go away on its own even after other symptoms of the disease disappear. This means that you need to determine the cause of the problem as soon as possible and begin treatment. To do this, you need to contact an otolaryngologist, since such ear problems can lead to hearing impairment in the future.

If your ear is blocked, but does not hurt, what to do is to pay attention to the accompanying signs. During the implementation of diagnostic measures, the specialist must pay attention to the dominant factor features of the disease - these are the direct signs and research results. If the second point is clear, then difficulties may arise with the first.

Usually, ear congestion gives rise to additional clinical features:

• feeling of strong high blood pressure;
• the formation of pain of a shooting nature;
• weakening of hearing function;
• distorted perception of sound phenomena;
• manifestation of discharge;
• the occurrence of noise sensations.

If you combine all these signs, you can make a rational diagnosis and determine for yourself an effective treatment plan. If your ear is blocked, you should definitely see a specialist.

Diagnosis of ear congestion

If you have congestion in your ears, you need to consult an otolaryngologist so that a correct diagnosis can be made. In some cases, the doctor only needs an examination to determine the cause. If any diseases are detected, the patient will be asked to:

• tympanometry - during this diagnosis, the functions of the middle ear are examined and the degree of mobility of the membrane and auditory ossicles is assessed;
• audiometry - this diagnosis helps determine the sensitivity threshold;
• computed tomography - thanks to this method, a layer-by-layer image of the temporal bones, as well as the brain, is obtained.

Below we will look at how to cure a stuffy ear at home, rather than using drops.

First, the doctor must determine exactly which part of the ear is affected. First, he examines the ear and eardrum. Sometimes a simple examination is not enough, so threshold pure-tone audiometry is performed, as a result of which the cause is determined.

Earwax is the most “harmless” reason that causes congestion in the ears. If a plug is discovered during an examination by an otolaryngologist, it is removed and special ear drops are prescribed, which help eliminate this very cause. A visit to an otolaryngologist every three or four months is recommended for those who are prone to frequent ear plugs.

Unfortunately, not all people rush to see a doctor when they have congestion. Many people think that the cause of the appearance is the sulfur plug, although this is not always the case. And delaying going to the doctor for a long time can lead to deafness.

Congestion can occur during air travel (changes in atmospheric pressure) - in this case, special help is not needed. For the congestion effect to go away, you just need to swallow or clear your nasal passages.

Water in the ear may also be the cause - gently cleaning the ear with a cotton swab will get rid of this problem.

Causes

The human ear is characterized by a complex structure, but when congestion occurs, all changes are observed in the Eustachian tube. It is the connecting element between the nasopharynx and the eardrum.

Today, there are many reasons why the ear is blocked. However, they may be associated with pathological changes occurring in the ear canal, or they may be the result of a pressure difference. If, in addition to ear congestion, there is also discharge, this indicates an inflammatory process, which in medical terminology is called otitis media. If there is no pain and congestion develops suddenly, then this is due to ear pathologies.

The following are the most common reasons why ear congestion occurs, but there is no pain:

1. Sudden changes in atmospheric pressure. Every person who has flown on an airplane or climbed an elevator has encountered such a situation in life. This cannot be attributed to pathologies, but the resulting congestion can be eliminated by swallowing saliva. This congestion lasts only a few minutes. But if unpleasant sensations when raising altitude bother you too often, then it is worth noting the weakness of the hearing aid. You can’t do without an ENT specialist here.
2. Accumulation of sulfur. The formation of wax plugs in the ear canal can lead to stuffiness. Moreover, it can last for several days or hours; everything is determined by the amount of wax accumulation in the ears. In this case, it is best to visit a doctor who can solve the problem in a few minutes by rinsing the ear cavity. It is not recommended to take independent actions, as this may aggravate the situation. Read how to remove ear plugs.
3. Presence of liquid. Congestion may occur during bathing or showering when water enters the ear.

The reasons presented should be considered the most basic. But congestion in the ear can occur against the background of internal disorders or diseases, while there will be no painful sensations.

The cause of the symptom during a seasonal cold or viral infection is not only swelling of the auditory tube. Often additional causes are wax plugs in the ear or mucus from the nose getting into the auditory tube. Another, more serious cause is inflammation of the facial nerve. The pain can “migrate”, creating an additional feeling of discomfort and congestion in the ears.

The causes of congestion and ringing in the ear can be:

• Changes in blood pressure - if your ears are blocked and you feel pain in them, you should measure your blood pressure. With hypertension, these symptoms are not uncommon. This condition can be triggered by external factors: deep-sea scuba diving, climbing a mountain, air travel.
• Runny nose - the nasal cavity is connected to the ear cavity by the auditory tube. During a runny nose, the mucous membrane swells, a large amount of mucus is formed, which is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms; the patient feels as if something is gurgling and overflowing in the ear cavity.
• Ear wax is another common cause of hearing problems. Earwax can build up, causing earwax to form. At the same time, the person notes that hearing decreases. After bathing, the pain in the ear canal may intensify, since water causes the sulfur to swell and press on its walls.
• Foreign body in the ear - congestion and noise can appear after a foreign object enters the ear cavity: it can be sand, an insect, pieces of cotton wool. This problem is often faced by parents of small children: children very often, while playing, insert small parts from toys, beads, buttons, peas into the ear canal. A foreign object can also cause pain.
• Water getting into the ear canal after swimming or hygiene procedures. To avoid unpleasant symptoms, it is necessary to thoroughly wipe the ear canal after bathing. Water in the ear canal is a common cause of otitis media.
• Long-term use of certain medications can also cause tinnitus.
• New growths in the ear cavity - tumors, cysts - all this can cause unpleasant symptoms.
• Hearing loss - if congestion occurs without pain and does not go away for a long time, while there is a noticeable decrease in hearing, you need to contact an otolaryngologist. You may be dealing with hearing loss. To determine the degree of decrease in hearing acuity, the ENT doctor will conduct audiometric and tympanometric studies.
• Deviated nasal septum - very often people with a deviated nasal septum experience signs of congestion, since the normal passage of air in the nasal cavity is difficult. In such cases, surgery to correct it is indicated.
• Staying in a noisy place for a long time (nightclub, noisy industry, train station, rock concert, etc.) - in this case, the symptoms go away on their own, you just have to go to a quiet place and relax. If symptoms do not go away, you should contact an otolaryngologist; acoustic trauma may have occurred.

Treatment with infusions

To treat ear congestion, noise and heaviness, take anti-inflammatory infusions and teas from: shoots, leaves and roots of wild raspberries, echinacea, rosehip fruits and leaves, chamomile, linden flowers, onion peels, plantain, elecampane, coltsfoot.

Take tea made from natural antibiotics: juniper berries, eucalyptus, calamus roots, rowan berries, blueberries, birch buds, oregano herb, sage, raspberry leaves, thyme.

When treating otitis media and getting rid of ear congestion, massage of reflex points is used. Ear disease can be caused by diseases of the nose, throat, or osteochondrosis. In these cases, appropriate treatment is carried out.

Ear congestion without pain: causes and treatment

It should be remembered that otitis media with purulent discharge cannot be treated independently, use hot compresses and instillations, use burning substances, or remove the pus yourself in any way. This treatment can lead to hearing loss. If the disease is not defeated using folk remedies within 1 week, conduct a course of therapy with an ENT doctor. For any symptoms of the disease, you should always be diagnosed by a specialist and receive recommended treatment and advice on the use of folk remedies, manual therapy, reflex point massages and classical massage.

Why are my ears clogged?

The most harmless reason why ear congestion may appear is water getting into the ear canal after swimming. Such congestion does not require medical intervention, since the water comes out naturally over time. Another cause of congestion, the treatment of which does not require drug intervention, is cerumen plug.

• otitis of various etiologies;
• sensorineural hearing loss;
• entry of foreign bodies.

Without pain

The cause of congestion, in which no pain is felt, may be more serious than cerumen. Ear congestion without pain can occur with exudative otitis media, which is difficult and long to treat. The causes of ear congestion without pain, which are associated with the appearance of exudative otitis media, can be very different:

• dysfunction of the auditory tube;
• changes in the mucous membrane due to chronic inflammatory processes of the nose and nasopharynx;
• ineffective treatment of acute otitis media;
• anatomical features of the auditory tube.

Inflammation of the eustachian tube can also cause congestion in which pain is not felt. This inflammation in the patient appears due to impaired aeration of the Eustachian tube. This occurs with frequent colds, inflammation of the nasopharynx and serious pathologies - chronic sinusitis, sore throats. The patient develops swelling that is dangerous to hearing, impairing the patency of the ear canals, causing hearing loss.

If ear congestion is felt constantly and for no apparent reason, it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination of the ear by an otolaryngologist. The cause of this condition may be sensorineural hearing loss, in which the perception of the sensory epithelial cells of the organ of Corti of the inner ear is impaired. Such pathological changes may appear due to previous ear infections, inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, head injuries, the effects of toxic drugs, diseases of bacterial etiology, or genetically defective cells of the organ of Corti.

If your ear is stuffy and hurts, most likely you are dealing with otitis media. More often it occurs due to the entry of bacteria through the nasopharynx as a result of prolonged colds, runny nose, sore throat and other inflammatory and bacterial lesions of the nasopharynx. Otitis is divided into external and medium, acute, purulent, catarrhal, chronic.

• treatment of external otitis - tampons soaked in 70% alcohol are inserted into the ear canal, physiotherapy is prescribed, and in case of elevated temperature and severe inflammation, antibacterial therapy is prescribed;
• Otitis media, acute otitis - antibacterial therapy, drug pain relief and removal of pus from the ear, possibly surgical intervention.

One ear is blocked

If you feel fullness in one ear, but there are no symptoms of pain, this could be due to foreign objects, for example, due to improper cleaning of the ears, when cotton wool remains in the ear canal. After using cotton swabs, sulfur plugs may form, the presence of which also causes hearing impairment and congestion. Diseases of the nasopharynx have a bad effect on the ear canal. Congestion in one ear during illness is a frequent accompaniment of colds and runny nose.

A feeling of fullness in the ears that is not associated with the above reasons can be caused by pressure changes in the external auditory canal. It is normal to experience unpleasant congestion symptoms during an airplane flight, especially during takeoff and landing.

You can avoid the feeling of stuffiness when the intra-ear pressure is disturbed if you help yourself with simple exercises. Otolaryngologists advise trying to open your mouth wide: in this position, your eardrum will be safe during sudden changes in pressure. If there are no pressure surges, and your ear periodically becomes clogged, consult a doctor.

In most cases, with ear congestion, a runny nose is observed. If your ear canal becomes blocked when you have a runny nose, this is normal. It’s a bad sign if there are no visible reasons for the appearance of unpleasant symptoms in the ear, but congestion begins to be accompanied by pain. People with diseases such as osteochondrosis, VSD, migraines, problems with cerebral vessels, vertigo or tumor lesions of the brain periodically experience hearing loss and a feeling of congestion. It may be accompanied by dizziness, headaches, and darkening of the eyes.

During pregnancy

The reason why pregnant patients have blocked ears is pressure changes, more often a decrease in pressure. Pressure surges are a common symptom in pregnant women, and this is due to physical changes in the woman's body. This is not dangerous. However, if your ears are blocked, and this condition is accompanied by headaches or dizziness, then you should immediately consult a doctor. Such symptoms may be associated with inflammation of the outer and middle ear, or be signs of other diseases.

This condition can develop under the influence of many internal and external factors. Congestion in one or both ears often indicates the development of a pathological process in the sound analyzer or neighboring organs, for example, the throat or nose. Syndromes of this kind are usually accompanied by pain and other negative manifestations.

Among other things, we should separately address the issue of what can cause blocked ears in infants. Due to their anatomical features, children in the first year of life are especially susceptible to the spread of infection from the nose and throat to the ear canal area. For this reason, it is extremely important to provide timely and adequate treatment for respiratory diseases in the smallest children. Meanwhile, among other reasons why ears are blocked, we can highlight:

• high pressure;
• inflammation of the outer ear;
• otitis media;
• wax plugs (due to the accumulation of earwax in the ear canal);
• changes in atmospheric pressure;
• ear infections;
• ingress of foreign objects;
• the presence of inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx;
• serious pathologies of the nervous system.

Many absolutely healthy people often have blocked ears when flying on an airplane. The fact is that during a climb, due to a sharp pressure drop, the eardrum bends outward, and its oscillatory ability decreases. It is important to note that throat diseases (sore throat), the presence of pathologies of the auditory canals, inflammation of the middle ear and other ailments favor the development of this condition.

A few minutes after reaching the desired height, the internal pressure of the tympanic cavity, as a rule, returns to normal and the unpleasant symptoms disappear. It must be said that a similar situation arises when an airplane is landing: the pressure in the cabin rapidly increases, while in the tympanic cavity it remains low, which provokes a feeling of congestion.

Water ingress

Decreased hearing acuity after swimming in the sea, pool or private bath is a very common unpleasant phenomenon. Listing the possible causes of stuffy ears, experts describe the following mechanism for the development of this condition when water gets in. Due to fluid entering the external auditory canal, the oscillatory function of the eardrum is disrupted. As a result, symptoms of congestion appear in the right or left ear (rarely in both ears).

This serious disease is caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity. The immediate cause of the development of ear congestion during otitis media is a disruption of the auditory tube. If the latter is obstructed, the flow of air into the tympanic cavity is limited and all conditions are created for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. For the most part, otitis media develops against the background of inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

Eustachite

In medicine, a broad understanding of this condition is used as inflammation of the middle ear. It must be said that the primary symptoms of the disease arise due to inflammation of the Eustachian tube. The close connection of this canal with the middle ear contributes to the further spread of the pathological process.

Allergic rhinitis

This condition occurs especially often in childhood. The child’s immunity is highly sensitive to various types of allergens: pollen, food products, and medications. In a situation where a foreign protein structure enters the body through the upper respiratory tract, it settles on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, causing inflammation and swelling of the surrounding tissues.

These pathological changes lead to the development of allergic rhinitis with copious mucus discharge from the nose (severe runny nose), lacrimation, severe difficulty breathing and other unpleasant symptoms. In addition, against the background of swelling of the nasopharynx, the appearance of symptoms of ear congestion is noted due to the blocking of the entrance of the auditory tubes by hyperplastic tissues.

This group of syndromes is a common cause of decreased visual acuity. Therefore, if your ears are blocked, you should pay attention to the state of the nervous system. Thus, the main diseases that can cause disruption of the functioning of the hearing aid are vegetative-vascular dystonia and osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. It is worth saying that the clinical picture of these syndromes is often accompanied by headaches and darkening of the eyes.

Complications due to improper treatment

If your left ear is blocked, then improper treatment or lack thereof can lead to very sad consequences. The worst of them is hearing impairment or its complete absence. In case of congestion only in the left ear, deafness can be one-sided, however, this can also cause a lot of trouble for the patient.

Since the ear is directly connected to the vestibular system, problems with the ears quickly affect a person’s balance.

If the ears are damaged, dizziness, loss of coordination, nausea, and vomiting may occur.

A patient with such complications experiences difficulties in normal life and is unable to engage in certain activities. He will not be able to drive a car or work with precision and dangerous equipment.

If ear congestion was associated with suppuration, and treatment turned out to be incorrect or insufficient, the process may become chronic or spread to surrounding tissues and organs.

Since the ears are connected to the nasopharynx and are in close proximity to the brain, chronic inflammatory processes can lead to very serious diseases, for example, inflammation of the facial nerve or meningitis.

The presence of a source of chronic infection in the body can have a detrimental effect on the condition of not only nearby organs. The infection can spread throughout the body through blood flow.

Having found a “weak spot”, it will settle there and cause diseases that have nothing to do with the ears. This could be kidney damage, inflammation in the reproductive organs, and even digestive problems.

Timely identification of the cause of ear congestion and proper treatment will help get rid of unpleasant sensations and not expose your body to the risk of chronic diseases.

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Symptomatic picture of the disease

Only an otolaryngologist can determine the exact cause of ear congestion after a comprehensive diagnosis. First of all, you need to eliminate the underlying problem, which in this case becomes a viral or bacterial infection.

What diseases can occur with such symptoms?

Otitis - inflammation of the outer and middle parts of the hearing organ is a common cause of these unpleasant symptoms. Another characteristic symptom of otitis media is acute shooting pain during inflammation. The disease may also be accompanied by fever and purulent discharge from the ear canal.

A feeling of congestion can appear with a disease of the hearing organ such as labyrinthitis - an inflammatory process that affects the structures of the inner ear. Another internal disease is Meniere's disease. With Meniere's disease, in addition to congestion, the following symptoms appear: headaches, nausea, problems with balance (at times of exacerbation, the patient cannot even sit).

With neuritis of the auditory nerve, in addition to ear noise and a feeling of fullness, the patient complains of frequent dizziness.

Older adults are often diagnosed with otosclerosis, a condition in which the bone in the middle portion of the ear becomes enlarged, leading to hearing problems.

But not only ear diseases lead to such symptoms.

Symptoms of stuffy ears

Usually there are no painful sensations during congestion; there is only a feeling of discomfort and tingling in the ears. The patient feels heaviness in his head, begins to perceive his voice differently, and hears sounds around him muffled. Ringing, noise, discomfort when talking and the sensation of fluid transfusion in the ears are not painful, but they cause a lot of inconvenience. But the presence of pain depends on the cause of the plug. If it is hidden in otitis, then pain is inevitable, intensifies with the onset of night, and in addition to it, the patient’s body temperature may rise. During swallowing, congestion may subside or, on the contrary, may arise.

It happens that two ears are blocked at once, and not one. First of all, this indicates that the patient has acute bilateral otitis media. Hearing loss does not occur with this disease unless the disease progresses to another level - purulent otitis media, in which the tissue of the middle ear is destroyed. The disease mainly occurs in children under three years of age and very often has consequences in the form of speech disorders.

Modern treatment methods: how to get rid of ear pain

If the cause of the disease is already known, understanding how to treat ear congestion at home is not so difficult. You cannot eliminate congestion on your own, because there is a risk of complications. If problems with the middle ear, otitis of various etiologies are identified, then treatment is prescribed and monitored by an ENT specialist. If foreign objects get in, you should also consult a doctor. You can get rid of water that has gotten into your ear on your own - it can be easily evacuated if you tilt your head, creating conditions for it to flow out.

A list of special medications for the treatment of a disease can only be issued by a doctor. Treatment for seemingly identical otitis may differ, if only because of the presence or absence of perforation of the eardrum. Common to all cases is the appointment of vasoconstrictor drops in the nose. They help relieve swelling in the Eustachian tube. Vasoconstrictor drops include:

• Naphthyzin;
• Nazol;
• Galazolin;
• Sanorin.

The following medications are often used to treat otitis media:

1. Ear drops with antibiotics – Cipropharm, Normax, Otofa.
2. Combined drops - Sofradex (antibiotic and corticosteroids anesthetize), Candibiotic (antibiotic, antifungal component and lidocaine anesthetize, treat fungus).
3. Antiseptic – Miramistin.
4. Ointments against fungus – Clotrimazole, Pimafucin.

Doctors prescribe antibiotics in tablets or injections in severe cases, for example, when otitis media appears against the background of a sore throat. Physiotherapy, Politzer blowing, and pneumomassage of the eardrum are prescribed in parallel with drug treatment. In severe cases - eardrum bypass or paracentesis, catheterization of the auditory tubes.

Removing traffic jams

Earwax plugs appear more often in children, since the child’s ear canal is not yet fully developed. It is narrower than in adults, so the risk of earwax accumulation, which creates a plug, is much higher. Diagnosing a plug in the ear is simple: there is discomfort and itching in the ear, hearing acuity decreases, and the patient feels stuffy. There are several ways to get rid of an ear plug:

• rinsing (done by a doctor);
• blowing;
• removal with hydrogen peroxide solution;
• treatment with special preparations (drops) or phytosuppositories.

You cannot do the washing and blowing procedure yourself; only doctors will remove the plug correctly. Trying to clear the plug yourself by blowing your ear can be dangerous. If you damage your eardrum, you can go deaf. At home, you can safely remove the plug in the following ways:

1. Drops like A-Cerumen or Remo-Vax need to be dripped for several days, according to the instructions. They dissolve earwax, so they facilitate easy removal of the plug. Before use, consult a doctor, as components may cause individual intolerance.
2. Hydrogen peroxide. Apply peroxide as drops for several days until the plug is completely dissolved and its particles are washed out of the ear canal. A drop of peroxide should be kept in the ear canal for up to 10 minutes. The fizz from the peroxide may cause discomfort, but it is minor.
3. Ear candles. Candles made using natural wax and propolis help draw out earwax and warm up the ears. They can be used even if your ears hurt a lot. The pain begins to go away after the first procedure. A candle can replace a warm compress if your ear is cold.

Treatment of otitis media

Boric acid is mixed with water 1:1, cotton wool pads are moistened and placed in the ear canals 3 times a day for 1 hour. The procedures take 1 week. A similar solution is made with the antibacterial anesthetic dimexide.

For otitis media without purulent discharge, treatment is carried out using traditional methods. Natural antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are used, which have no side effects compared to chemical drugs.

• — To relieve pain, instill a mixture of almond oil and thin honey (6 drops in equal proportions) into the ear.
• — Plantain oil is dripped into the ear canal (dry leaves ground into flour and mixed with melted butter).
• — Place a crushed geranium leaf into the ear canal.
• — Drop flaxseed oil into the ear and nose 4 times a day. Calendula oil (mix flower powder with unrefined vegetable oil, leave in a water bath for 2 hours, cool and leave for 1 day. Take half a liter of oil for 1 tablespoon of herb).
• - Gargle with linseed oil and place turundas in your nose for 15 minutes.
• — Place 4 bay leaves in boiling water (1 cup), leave for 4 hours. Drink 2 tablespoons 3 times a day and bury.
• — Get rid of pain and congestion in the ears. Treatment with turundas soaked in one of the components: warm olive, peach, sea buckthorn oil, St. John's wort, juniper berry decoction, glycerin.
• — Make a hole in a raw onion, add flaxseed oil, and bake. Squeeze the juice and drop it into the ear 4 times a day.
• — Wrap pine resin flagella in a sterile bandage and place in sore ears at night.