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Blocked or plugged ears are often caused due to allergies or a cold. and are usually mild and temporary problems without the need for specific medication or therapy. However if you experience symptoms that are intense, or if the plugged ears last for more than an extended period, you may want to have the ear condition evaluated by your medical practitioner.
The middle ears are connected to the back of an individual's nose through the use of Eustachian tubes. The pressure of air in the middle ear is usually the same as that in the outer ear. When an individual swallows or yawns, these tubes naturally opens up and allows the air to flow into or out of the middle ear thus balancing the air pressure. In the event of a block ear syndrome, the Eustachian tube gets obstructed due to the presence of water or dust particles. Hence, the air pressure in the middle ear cannot be equaled with the air pressure in the outer ear.
Due to this the ear drum is unable to vibrate normally and hence sounds are muffled. An individual with plugged ears may also experience ear pain.
The symptoms of a plugged ear condition usually last for about a few hours to several weeks -- depending upon the cause and nature of the ear condition -- and are likely to go away without any treatment. If you seek treatment for the condition from your doctor, the medication prescribed will help in trying to get the air flow into the Eustachian tube. You may also try a widely practiced home remedy -- draw in a deep breath and blow out the air while pinching the nostrils closed and closing the mouth. If you experience a popping noise, you know you have succeeded in unplugging your ears.
In the case of excessive wax buildup causing the blocked ear condition, it is not advisable to remove the ear wax on its own without the help of a medical practitioner. Doing so could lead to complications of the ear drum and sometimes even perforation in the ear drum. Do not use ear buds or cotton tipped applicators to remove the buildup of ear wax, as you are likely to push the ear wax deeper into the ear canal.
In most drugstores, one can avail of over-the-counter or non-prescription wax softening products to treat the condition. In the absence of a non-prescription medication, you can make your own wax softener by warming mineral or baby oil. With the help of a dropper, a couple of drops can be instilled in each year affected by excessive earwax buildup.
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