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If you’re going to have a nice summer, you need to take care of your ears. As soon as you feel ear pain or hearing loss, you possibly become acutely aware of just how important this body part is. Unfortunately, ear issues most commonly occur in summer. Things like traveling, swimming, and exploring outdoors are the main culprits of ear problems and can require medical help. So, let’s take a look at the top common issues that can affect your ears.
1. Airplane travels can lead to ear pain, especially if you have nasal congestion.
Airplane travels can make your ears hurt, but why? Each side of your face is linked to your middle ear, the back of your nose, and your upper throat. These links regulate the pressure in the middle ears.
During airplane ascent, air pressure sharply drops leading to an imbalance of pressure inside your head. During airplane descent, air pressure sharply increases and too much air enters the middle ears which actually provokes discomfort and pain.
Swallowing or chewing something during airplane ascent will help you reduce or prevent ear discomfort. Nasal congestion can also provoke ear pain, therefore it’s wise to take a decongestant an hour before takeoff.
2. Allergies and summer colds can provoke ear infections.
Although ear issues like infections are more common in children, they are likely to occur even in healthy adults. Things like allergies, sinus infections, and cold can make you more prone to a bacterial or viral ear infection. Those infections are usually accompanied by localized achiness and temporary hearing loss.
Certain ear infections can go away on their own in a week or two. So, if you suspect rupture and feel extremely nauseous and weak, have a fever, hear too loud ringing, experience hearing loss, or feel severe pain in your ear, you might have an infection. Taking pain-relieving medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help you reduce pain and discomfort. However, a bacterial infection requires treatment and therefore it’s important to turn to a doctor and they will prescribe you antibiotics.
3. Water activities can contribute to a ruptured eardrum.
Sudden changes in pressure during diving can affect your ears as well. Water activities can even cause trauma and eardrum rupture. Since the eardrum has many nerves, the rupture is always accompanied by hard pain. This is a sign you need to seek medical help immediately.
In addition to severe pain, a perforated eardrum can provoke symptoms like fluid leaking from your ear, nausea or vomiting, hearing loss, and a ringing sound in your ear.
4. Travel stress can also lead to ear pain.
The process of traveling can contribute to intense stress which can result in jaw clenching. If you are one of those who experience teeth grinding during stress or during sleep, you are very likely to get jaw issues like tear and wear. This can contribute to pain that often radiates to the ear.
If your ear pain is accompanied by biting and chewing difficulties, headache, clicking or popping of your jaw, and difficulties in opening your mouth, turn to your primary care physician or family dentist to see whether you have any joint issues. They might recommend using a mouth guard at night or/and jaw exercises or relaxation techniques.
5. Music concerts, festivals, and fireworks can trigger noise-induced hearing loss.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) claims that frequently exposing your ears to things like music concerts, festivals, and fireworks can deteriorate your hearing over time.
Too loud sounds can put too much pressure on the eardrum tearing this fragile membrane. This is called the perforated or ruptured eardrum. Exposure to loud sounds also destroys the hair cells of the inner ear that send necessary nerve impulses to the brain leading to irreversible hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss usually occurs when a person has repeated or prolonged exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels.
The problem is that you might notice that something is wrong right away albeit there is a chance that you’ll have ringing in your ears or a weaker sense of hearing. However such signs can go away quickly, so you might not understand you’re dealing with irreversible hearing damage. Fortunately, wearing earplugs at concerts and music festivals can help you avoid this issue.
6. Spending a lot of time in the water can cause swimmer’s ear.
Swimmer’s ear also called otitis externa is a condition when there is a skin infection inside the ear canal. Swimmer’s ear can occur due to spending a lot of time in the water, especially in the rivers, lakes, and pools. Water trapped in the ear canal can create an ideal environment for bacteria and fungus allowing them to spread.
Don’t use a cotton swab as it can scratch the ear canal leading to the wounds which can also contribute to bacteria and fungus overgrowth. Symptoms of swimmer’s ear usually include itchiness in the ear, temporary hearing loss, fever, and pain. In this case, you should visit a doctor who will find out whether your ear infection is caused by bacteria or fungus. Depending on the type of infection, they will prescribe antibiotics or anti-fungal drops.
7. Swimmer’s ear can cause bony bumps in your ear canal.
Spending a lot of time kayaking, surfing, or doing similar sports in chilly waters can cause bony bumps to build up along your ear canal over time. Although this issue is not an immediate thing and it usually forms for several years, it can cause many unpleasant problems.
Bony bumps are considered the result of frequent exposure to cold water and wind that can contribute to inflammation that encourages bone growth and forms these small bumps. If they become large, they can cause a plugged-up sensation in the ears, decreased hearing, and frequent ear infections. Wearing earplugs and wetsuit hoods will help you avoid those bony bumps.