It’s that time of year again. The colder months often bring colds, coughs and congestion — and along with a blocked nose, you may also notice that your ears feel blocked, full or muffled.
But why does a cold affect your ears?
The good news is that this is usually connected to the congestion caused by your cold and often improves as you recover. However, it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether your blocked ear is caused by congestion or something else, such as earwax.
Here’s what you need to know.
How can a cold affect your ears?
Your middle ear is connected to the back of your nose and throat by a small passage called the Eustachian tube.
One of its important jobs is to help keep the air pressure on both sides of your eardrum balanced.
When you have a cold, the tissues around your nose and throat can become swollen and congested. This can affect the Eustachian tube and prevent it from working as effectively as usual.
As a result, you might experience:
- A blocked or “full” feeling in your ear
- Muffled hearing
- Pressure or discomfort
- Popping or crackling sounds
- A sensation that your ears need to “pop”
This can be particularly noticeable when swallowing, yawning or blowing your nose.
Is it earwax or congestion?
This is an important question because a blocked ear doesn’t automatically mean you have earwax.
Earwax build-up can cause similar symptoms, including muffled hearing and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
If your ears were fine before your cold and suddenly feel blocked while you’re congested, your symptoms may be related to the cold rather than wax.
However, it’s not always possible to tell the difference based on symptoms alone.
If your ears continue to feel blocked after your cold has cleared, or you’re unsure what’s causing the problem, getting your ears checked can help establish whether earwax could be contributing.
How long will it take to clear?
For many people, the blocked or muffled feeling improves as the cold and congestion settle.
However, the ears can sometimes take a little longer to return to normal than the other symptoms of a cold.
Try to give your ears time to recover rather than trying to force them to “pop” or putting anything inside your ears.
What can I do to help?
There are some simple things you can try while you’re recovering from a cold.
Stay hydrated – drinking plenty of fluids can help you stay hydrated while your body fights the infection.
Swallow and yawn regularly – these actions can help the Eustachian tubes open and close naturally.
Try not to blow your nose too forcefully – gentle nose blowing is preferable to putting excessive pressure on your ears.
Don’t put cotton buds or other objects into your ears – if the blockage is caused by congestion, trying to remove wax won’t solve the problem and could potentially make things worse.
What if my ear stays blocked?
If your cold has gone but your ear still feels blocked or your hearing hasn’t returned to normal, it may be worth getting it checked.
There could still be congestion affecting your middle ear, but it’s also possible that earwax is contributing to the problem or that there is another reason for the change in your hearing.
Getting your ears checked can help you understand what’s causing the symptoms rather than simply assuming it’s wax.
When should I seek medical advice?
A blocked ear associated with a cold is usually nothing to worry about, but there are times when you should seek medical advice.
Speak to a healthcare professional if you experience significant or worsening ear pain, discharge from the ear, severe dizziness, or hearing loss that develops suddenly.
You should also get advice if your symptoms aren’t improving or you’re concerned about a persistent change in your hearing.
Cold, blocked ears or earwax?
At Just Ears, we can check your ears to see whether earwax could be causing your symptoms.
If we find a build-up that is suitable for removal, we’ll explain the options available to you. If your ears are clear, we’ll let you know that your symptoms are unlikely to be caused by wax and that you may need to seek further advice.
So, the next time a winter cold leaves you feeling like your ears are blocked, don’t automatically blame the wax! It could simply be your cold affecting the way your ears equalise pressure.
