How to clear blocked ears due to a cold?

If anyone finds that their ears are blocked, they should seek medical attention in time, because there are many reasons for ear blockage. The most common one is otitis media. It may also be due to water accumulation in the ears during swimming. To clear blocked ears, you can use finger pressing, deep breathing, chewing gum, etc.

What to do if your ears feel stuffy after a cold: Understand the cause

The ear is divided into three parts: inner, middle and outer. The middle ear is connected to the nasopharynx through the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube is the only channel for the middle ear to communicate with the outside world through the nasopharynx. Under normal circumstances, the air pressure inside and outside the middle ear is basically equal and consistent with the atmospheric pressure. Under physiological conditions, the air in the middle ear will be continuously absorbed by the middle ear mucosa, but the intermittent opening of the Eustachian tube will allow fresh air to continuously enter the middle ear, thus maintaining the pressure balance inside and outside the middle ear. However, when you have a cold, your Eustachian tube may be blocked due to a blocked nose, which will cause the air in the middle ear to be absorbed without being replenished accordingly, forming negative pressure and causing a stuffy feeling in the ears.

Children are more likely to have blocked Eustachian tubes. This is because their Eustachian tubes are not fully developed compared to adults and are short, flat and straight. Children also have adenoids (close to the Eustachian tubes), especially enlarged adenoids, which are also factors that can easily affect the Eustachian tubes. Therefore, the function of the Eustachian tubes is more easily affected after a cold. Generally speaking, the more severe the nasal congestion caused by a cold, the more likely it is to experience ear stuffiness; blowing your nose hard after a cold can also cause this situation.

What to do if your ears feel stuffy after a cold: physical methods

1. Press your ears with your palms, pressing and releasing. Doing this can blow air into the middle ear, changing the pressure inside and outside the middle ear, making the ear unobstructed.

2. Take a deep breath, pinch your nose, close your mouth, puff up your cheeks and blow air until you hear a "puff" sound in your ears. It can massage the eardrum or blow air into the middle ear, changing the pressure inside and outside the middle ear and making the ear unobstructed.

3. Chewing gum, swallowing and yawning can also help open the Eustachian tube and relieve ear stuffiness.

What to do if your ears feel stuffy after a cold: Relieve nasal congestion

1. Side-lying massage method:

If you have left-side ear congestion, lie to the right; if you have right-side nasal congestion, lie to the left. Use two fingers to pinch your nose and press and rub the Yingxiang points on both sides for 1 to 2 minutes. The nasal congestion can be removed.

2. Hot compress method:

Apply a hot towel to your nose, or use a hair dryer to blow hot air into your nostrils, blowing on both sides of the temples, Fengchi acupoints, and Dazhui acupoints, and the nasal congestion can be relieved.