What causes blocked ears?

People often attend the doctor complaining of blocked  ears. There are several common causes of blocked ears that a doctor will usually check for. Here are some of the most frequent issues.

Ear wax

• Glands in the skin inside your ears naturally make wax (also called cerumen), which protects the ear canal by trapping germs and dust.
• Usually the wax makes its way slowly outwards to the opening of the ear, and the ears are naturally “cleaned”. However, sometimes wax builds up, leading to a sense of blocked ears, and occasionally discomfort, irritation or tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in the ears).
• Things that make people more prone to build-up of ear wax include narrow ear canals, hairy ears, living or working in dusty environments, overly vigorous cleaning of the ears (e.g. with cotton buds), eczema, or just a tendency to produce a lot of ear wax. Using hearing aids or ear plugs can also cause wax to build up.
• There are various remedies for a build-up of ear wax, including drops that soften the wax, which can be purchased from a pharmacy. Your GP can remove the wax with a syringe that sprays warm water into the ear. Troublesome wax can also be removed by a technique known as “microsuction”, which tends to be done by ENT specialists. And if you have a contributing skin condition, such as eczema, getting treatment for it may help.

If you’ve ever had the sensation that your ears are blocked, or you feel you need to pop them but they just won’t pop, you may have had “Eustachian Tube Dysfunction”. It’s a common problem, and one that often brings people to see the doctor. So, what are Eustachian Tubes, what’s their role and what causes them to misbehave?

What are the Eustachian Tubes?

• The Eustachian Tubes are thin channels or tubes that connect the middle ear (the part of the ear behind your eardrum) to narrow openings high up in the back of the throat, behind your nose.
• The purpose of these tubes is to equalise the air pressure in the middle ear with the air outside, and to allow any fluid or mucus in the middle ear to drain away.
• Normally, the Eustachian Tubes open for an instant when you chew, swallow, yawn, or if you purposely pop your ears by blowing out against a tightly closed mouth and blocked nose. Usually, you’ll hear a little clicking sound as the Eustachian Tubes open and shut.

What causes Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?

There are several health issues that can trigger Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, including:

• Head colds or other respiratory viruses- mucus blocks the tubes or the place where they open into the back of the throat
• Sinusitis-a postnasal drip occurs when there is mucus flowing down from the back of the nose, into the throat. This mucus may cover the opening of the eustachian tubes.
• Hay fever or other allergic rhinitis – again, mucus production can lead to blockage of the tube openings
• Anything that causes rapid changes in air pressure and/or altitude- e.g. air travel, climbing mountains, using an elevator in a tall building.
• Smoking- this irritates the airways and the “cilia” which are tiny protective hair-like structures that clear out the middle ear.
• Obesity- fatty deposits may cause congestion around the eustachian tubes

When should you see a doctor?

If your symptoms continue for more than 2 weeks or so, you should see your doctor for a check-up. However, if you develop symptoms such as severe earache, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, fever, dramatically reduced hearing, or if you feel particularly unwell, you should seek immediate medical attention.

What else causes blocked ears?

There are other conditions that can lead to a sensation of blocked ears, including:

• Ear wax
• Middle ear infection (otitis media)
• Infection of the outer ear canal (otitis externa or swimmer’s ear)
• Very rare causes such as tumours or stroke

If you have blocked ears, or other symptoms relating to your ears, you should speak to your doctor.