Tips To Prevent Sinus Infections
In order to avoid ear pain and temporary hearing loss due to clogged ears as a result of sinus infections one must prevent sinus infections. Here are some tips to help you prevent sinus infections and avoid the complications associated with it.
- Control your allergies.
- Keep hydrated, which keeps mucus thin.
- Reduce alcohol consumption, which can worsen mucus.
- Minimize exposure to people with cold or flu.
- Always wash your hands and avoid germs.
- Avoid chlorinated swimming pools.
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Rhinosinusitis / Sinusitis Is This A Drainage Problem Caused By Herniated Discs
Above I suggested the connection between cervical spinal instability and a patients Eustachian tube dysfunction and sinusitis. Lets look at the sinusitis part of his problem and also connect that to cervical spine instability.
First, lets look at a case study in the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy. It looks at possible sinus headaches and the development of rhinosinusitis and a connection to neck pain.
Here are the summary learning points:
- Headaches can be associated with rhinosinusitis and may present a diagnostic challenge because of symptomatic overlap with other recurring headaches.
- Neck pain has received extensive attention in migraine, tension-type, and cervicogenic headaches but not as a comorbid feature of headache in those with rhinosinusitis.
- This study investigated the occurrence of neck pain and cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction in individuals with self-reported sinus headaches.
- Patients in this study were asked to assess their Cervical range of motion , had a cervical segmental examination, muscle endurance, and pressure-pain threshold tests.
- Findings or tests and examinations: Neck pain and cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction are common among persons with sinus headaches and may be a comorbid feature or contributing factor to headaches attributed to rhinosinusitis. Further research is needed to understand these associations.
Is It Safe To Pop Your Ears
Having clogged ears can be uncomfortable and may muffle your hearing. When this happens, popping your ears may help.
Popping your ears is generally safe. It usually requires little more than moving your mouth muscles. Regardless of the technique you try, its important to be gentle. If your symptoms worsen, its a good idea to stop trying to clear your ears and consult your doctor.
If you try to unclog your ears with an over-the-counter or prescription medication, avoid using it for longer than directed on the package. If your symptoms persist, talk with your doctor.
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When To Call Your Doctor
Most of the time, these are all safe and effective methods, Dr. Goldman says, but depending on the cause, these methods be unsafe and could even cause damage.
If youre traveling in high altitude changes or know youre in the midst of an allergic flare-up, your clogged ears likely arent a problem and should resolve pretty quickly. But clogged ears that persist or are accompanied by other symptoms can indicate a more serious issue. Pay attention to issues like:
The Start Of The Chase For The Root Cause Of The Problem The Connection Between The Vagus Nerve And The Trigeminal Nerve And Sinus Drainage
The vagus nerve, as illustrated below, travels through the cervical spine. It travels especially close to the C1, C2, C3 vertebrae. Cervical spine instability in these regions can cause herniation or pinching of the vagus nerve, which can lead to a disruption of normal nerve communication between the vagus nerve and the trigeminal nerve and trigeminal ganglion. This disruption or herniation of the nerve can cause among the many symptoms of cluster headaches.
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Something Stuck In Your Ear
Something as simple as a small object lodged in your ear could cause strange popping sounds when you swallow.
For example, Dr. Rod Moser says that even a stray hair resting on your eardrum could be a reason why you have crackling in your ear. This can affect the vibrations on the eardrum and create unusual noises in your ear.14
How To Treat Sinus Infections
If the crackling sound in your nose is accompanied by symptoms of sinus infection, some home remedies may work. While you shouldnt self-medicate without your doctors advice, you can do a few things to alleviate sinus infection symptoms, including:
- Warm compresses to relieve sinus pain.
- Over-the-counter nasal sprayscontaining salt water to help keep your nasal passages moist while unblocking congestion and treating inflammation.
- Drinking lots of fluids and hydrating sufficiently to moisten your nasal passages and ease blockage.
- Humidifiers to add moisture to the air and decongest your sinuses.
- Take probiotics to boost your immunity against allergens. Make sure to take a probiotic supplement thats specifically formulated for sinus issues like Bionaze.
But you need to remember that the above remedies only offer temporary relief. It wont necessarily get rid of your sinus infection. If you want to put an end to your sinus issues once and for all, its always best to consult your doctor.
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Untreated Sinus Infection Risks
Sinus infections often start to improve on their own after about 10 days. If your symptoms last longer without improving or if they worsen, a doctor may need to treat the underlying cause of the infection.
If a sinus infection affects a sinus cavity close to the brain, it can spread to the brain if left untreated. Though rare, an infection can also pass into the eye socket and cause vision changes or blindness. These types of infections are more common in kids.
While uncommon, a serious fungal sinus infection left untreated may pass into the bones.
Make an appointment with a doctor if you have severe symptoms, or if the following symptoms last longer than 10 days or keep coming back:
Because the cause of your sinus infection can affect your treatment options, its important to see a doctor for a diagnosis. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if youre looking for a doctor.
If you believe you have chronic or recurring sinusitis, consider asking for a referral to an otolaryngologist, also known as an ear, nose, and throat specialist. You may need imaging and other tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.
An ENT specialist can take a culture of nose drainage to better understand the cause of an infection. The ENT specialist can also examine the sinuses more closely and look for any problem in the structure of the nasal passages that could lead to chronic sinus problems.
Conditions causing your chronic infections may include:
Medical Animation: Ear Pressure
The ear can be divided into three sections: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The middle ear is an air-filled chamber that is connected to the nose and throat via a channel called the eustachian tube.
Normally, air moves through this tube to equalize the pressure in the middle ear with that of the air around us. This is especially important when there are large changes in the external air pressure, such as in flying or scuba diving. For example, as an airplane rises in altitude, the air pressure in the cabin gradually drops. This causes the pressure in the middle ear to seem relatively high, and the eardrum bulges slightly outward.
When the pressure difference between the cabin and the middle ear reaches about 15 mmHg, the eustachian tubes open with a popping sensation and air is released from the middle ears. Under normal circumstances, this happens about once every five hundred to one-thousand feet during ascent.
Conversely, as the plane descends and the pressure in the cabin increases, the middle ear pressure seems relatively low and the eardrum is pulled slightly inward. Now when the eustachian tubes open, air rushes into the middle ears to equalize the pressure.
Sometimes during descent a manual technique must be used to equalize middle ear pressure. For example, swallowing, chewing gum, or blowing the nose can help open the eustachian tubes if the pressure difference becomes uncomfortable.
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Whats The Procedure For Ear Tube Insertion
For the insertion, an otolaryngologist places tiny plastic or metal tubes in the eardrum. Once inside the ear, these tubes will:
- Reduce pressure. Ear infections and fluid buildup increase pressure inside the ear, which is what causes pain. Ear tubes allow air to enter the ear, equalizing the pressure between the inner ear and the outside world. This eases pain and helps prevent accumulation of liquid in the middle ear.
- Drain fluid. Ear tubes allow pus and mucus buildup from ear infections to drain out of the ear without causing pain or increasing the risk of related complications.
- Prepare the ear for treatment drops. Tubes also make it easier to use antibiotic drops in the ears to treat infections. The tubes function as a passageway, permitting the drops to travel directly into the ear. Because they make antibiotic drops easier to use, the tubes can eliminate the need for oral antibiotic treatment.
Ear tube insertion, also called myringotomy and tympanostomy tube placement, is a very common procedure performed under general anesthesia. During the procedure, the patient is asleep and breathing on their own. The surgical team monitors heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen throughout the surgery.
The actual surgery takes only about 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, the surgeon performs the following steps:
Ear tube insertion is a common and safe procedure. On rare occasions, however, complications may occur. Check with your doctor if you:
How Can A Sinus Infection Affect Your Ears
Most sinusitis-related ear problems, including tinnitus, are caused by the congestion that occurs during a sinus infection. To better understand this phenomenon, lets take a second to review a few facts about sinusitis.
Sinusitis most frequently occurs when a virus or bacteria irritates the tissues of your sinus cavities. This irritation can lead to swelling which, in turn, can lead to mucus buildup and congestion.
Your sinus cavities and ears are interconnected systems, so congestion in the sinuses can create ear congestion, as well. Congestion in the ear may block the tube known as the Eustachian Tube that connects the middle ear to the outer ear and helps regulate pressure within the ear. When the Eustachian Tube is blocked, the pressure is allowed to build up around the eardrum, which is ultimately what causes ringing in the ears, aka tinnitus.
Whether you have an acute sinus infection or a sinus infection that wont go away, so long as the congestion is severe enough, it can cause tinnitus.
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Treating Cervical Ligaments With Prolotherapy Published Research From Caring Medical
Prolotherapy is an injection technique that stimulates the repair of unstable, torn or damaged ligaments. When the cervical ligaments are unstable, they allow for excessive movement of the vertebrae, which can stress tendons, atrophy muscles, pinch on nerves, such as the vagus nerve, and cause other symptoms associated with cervical instability including problems of digestion among others.
In 2014, we published a comprehensive review of the problems related to weakened damaged cervical neck ligaments in The Open Orthopaedics Journal. We are honored that this research has been used in at least 6 other medical research papers by different authors exploring our treatments and findings and cited, according to Google Scholar, in more than 40 articles.
How Do You Fix A Muffled Ear
A few drops of mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, or hydrogen peroxide in your ear can soften the wax and help clear it out. If that doesnt work, see your doctor. They may use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water to try to flush it out or use special tools to remove the wax and improve your hearing.
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What Else Causes Ear Popping
Sometimes your ears may clog and unclog themselves naturally. This usually happens because of changes in the surrounding air pressure.
If you climb to a high altitude for example, fly on an airplane or drive up a high mountain range your ears may pop as they adjust to the air pressure around you. Diving underwater also leads to pressure changes that cause your ears to pop.
If your ears dont pop on their own when you fly on a plane or change elevation, you may be able to clear them by chewing gum or yawning.
Can Sinuses Make Your Ears Pop
This is because the sinus congestion and stuffiness can affect the pressure in your ears. The pressure in your sinuses affects more than just your nose. It can also cause pain in your ears, dizziness, and the feeling that your ears feel stuffed up or clogged.
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Is It Normal For Your Ears To Pop When You Have A Cold
Allergies, viruses and hearing Allergies and colds are the most likely to cause a middle ear infection, also known as otitis media. After a few days of a stuffy or runny nose, the lining of your middle ear is irritated. This can block the Eustachian tube, which can feel like popping in the ears, fullness or congestion.
Runny Nose And Postnasal Drip
When you have a sinus infection, you may need to blow your nose often because of nasal discharge, which can be cloudy, green, or yellow. This discharge comes from your infected sinuses and drains into your nasal passages.
The discharge may also bypass your nose and drain down the back of your throat. You may feel a tickle, an itch, or even a sore throat.
This is called postnasal drip, and it may cause you to cough at night when youre lying down to sleep, and in the morning after getting up. It may also cause your voice to sound hoarse.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
People with ETD may experience a number of warning signs. Common eustachian tube dysfunction symptoms include:
- Dizziness, vertigo or balance problems.
- A tickling sensation in your ears.
Eustachian tube dysfunction symptoms may get worse in higher altitudes. This is called barotrauma, and it can happen while scuba diving, flying in an airplane or driving in the mountains.
Middle And External Ear Infections
A middle ear infection can cause ear congestion, as well as dizziness, ear pain, and occasionally fluid drainage. Theyre usually caused by colds or other respiratory problems that travel to the middle ear through the Eustachian tube.
External ear infections, also known as swimmers ear, are usually caused by water that remains in your ear after swimming or bathing, providing an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. You may experience pain, itching, redness, and clear fluid drainage or a discharge of pus.
Ear infections often resolve without treatment. Over-the-counter ear drops and pain medication can help relieve your symptoms. If your symptoms are severe or last more than two days, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
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Sinus Infections And Other Health Effects
Aside from ear pain and dizziness, a sinus infection can also cause temporary hearing loss. Sinus-related hearing loss occurs when the infection spreads to the ears, specifically the middle ear. Hearing can become affected if inflammation puts pressure on the ear drum. This inflammation can cause discharge of fluid and the build-up of fluid in the eardrum, which leads to pain and temporary hearing loss.
When the fluid and pressure are relieved the hearing loss will reverse, and you can go back to hearing how you previously did, prior to the infection. If the fluid does not drain commonly seen in children the continuous pressure can cause the eardrum to burst, which contributes to permanent hearing loss.
Its important to prevent sinus infections as well as treating them right away, so that you dont encounter any complications.
Other health complications that can stem from a sinus infection are headaches and throat problems, such as coughing or a sore throat.
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Living With Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Managing your symptoms when you have allergies or a cold is important. This can keep your Eustachian tubes clear and prevent an infection. Home care usually takes care of any problems. This includes exercises such as swallowing or yawning. If you or your child show symptoms of severe pain in the ear, call your family doctor.
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Open Your Mouth And Yawn
Yawning can help you open up the eustachian tube and equalize the air pressure in your ears.
Some people may find this easy because they can yawn whenever they want to. However, it is not easy for others. You can try to make a fake yawn, which will still give you the desired result.
Open your mouth and speak âaaaaa,â you will hear the âpopâ sound in your ears. You can try to make yourself yawn by looking at a person who is yawning. Think about yawning your body will likely do it afterward. Sometimes not breathing enough can also cause you to yawn.
How Are Blocked Eustachian Tubes Treated
Blocked eustachian tubes often get better on their own. For adults, decongestants that you take by mouth or spray into your nose may be helpful. If you have allergies, the doctor may prescribe a steroid medicine that you spray into your nose. Follow the instructions carefully.
If you have an ear infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
In some cases, people need surgery for a blocked eustachian tube. The doctor makes a small cut in the eardrum to drain fluid and to make the pressure the same inside and outside the ear. Sometimes the doctor will put a small tube in the eardrum. The tube usually will fall out over time.
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