Have you ever had an ear infection. I think most people have and they are pretty awful. I have always had bad ears, starting with Glue Ear as a child and having many Ear, nose and throat infections.
Symptoms of Ear Infections
The most common symptoms of ear infections include
- earache or pain
- fever
- discharge/fluid from the ear
- deafness or blocked ears
- dizziness
- noises in the ear/tinnitus
Ear infections can be caused by virus, bacteria, fungus or yeast and can affect the outer, middle or inner parts of your ear.
Taking Care of Your Ears
We all need to take care of our ears as we would do any other part of our body. Earing loss can occur at any time but prolonged exposure to loud noise or headphone use can exacerbate this problem. Here are some tips on how you can take better care of your ears and prevent infections and hearing loss.
- Use Earplugs if you have to be around loud noises frequently.
- Limit your use of headphone and earpods. Opt for headphones when you can just so you are not constantly putting objects into your ears.
- Do not put things in your ears such as cotton buds.
- Discuss medications with your GP. Certain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, can sometimes contribute to hearing loss.
- Keep your ears dry particularly after swimming and bathing/showering
- Manage stress as it is known to have an adverse affect on your hearing and can contribute to tinnitus
- Visit a reputable care centre like Auris Ear Care if you have any worries about your ear health.
Ear Wax
Ear wax is one of my pet hates but it is a necessary by-product produced by your ears to protect them. It has a cleansing, anti-bacterial and lubricating properties and when produced in the right amount it is essential. Excess ear wax, however, can be troublesome. It can become impacted in your ears and cause lots of problems such as a feeling of blocked ears, pain, hearing loss, dizziness and in some cases tinnitus.
Trying to clean your ears yourself, with cotton buds for example, can cause even more problems by pushing the wax further into the ear canal. The best way to remove excess wax is to have it done by suction by an ear care specialist.
Finding Relief From Ear Infections
Ear ache is quite awful and I pity anyone who suffers from it. Middle ear infections may need anti-biotics to treat them, but a proper consultation with an ear, nose and throat specialist can help.
When I had ear ache as a child I found that a warm towel would ease the pain, but this can make some people feel worse. Ibuprofen can reduce any inflammation in the ear, so that might be a better option.
You can buy ear drops that help to decrease infection and loosen wax build up. But if it happens frequently then you need to see a specialist to determine the cause.
Do you suffer from ear problems?
When Did You Last Have Your Hearing Tested?
*This is a collaborative post
Ear ache is the worst and you really do have to look after your ears.
My youngest is deaf in one ear so we have to be really careful and look after her good ear. Great advice x
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