You know that feeling: muffled sounds combined with the sensation that your ears are under pressure. It can mean only one thing — clogged ears. For many people, it’s a regular occurrence, particularly when they awaken in the morning.
At ENT Specialists, our team specializes in unraveling the mystery behind clogged ears, using state-of-the-art diagnostic methods and treatment plans tailored to each person’s symptoms and needs. In this post, learn the possible reasons for clogged ears and how our team can help.
Your ears are extremely complex structures, and lots of factors can cause or contribute to their feeling clogged or “stuffy.” While some causes, like earwax buildup, can happen anytime, a few factors are more commonly associated with morning ear problems.
Allergies are a common cause of clogged or stuffy ears, and our homes contain lots of potential allergens. Pet dander, dust, and molds can cause allergic symptoms, and so can bedding that uses feathers or down.
Dust mites are one of the most common causes of allergies — and there’s a good chance your bed contains millions of these tiny creatures. Dust mites feed on dead skin, and when they shed (or poop), their debris can trigger symptoms like clogged ears and trouble breathing. Using a mattress protector designed to block dust mites can help, and it’s also important to wash your bedding frequently.
Your ears and your sinuses are connected via channels that help drain excess fluids. If you have a sinus or ear infection, inflammation and swelling can interfere with drainage, leading to clogged ears. Seeing a doctor and taking prescribed antibiotics can help.
Even if you don’t have an infection, your sinuses can still cause trouble. If you have nasal polyps, a deviated septum, or an issue with the structure or function of your sinuses, drainage can be interrupted — and that can lead to clogged ears.
Elevating your head or changing your sleeping position might help, but in many cases, the underlying problem needs medical treatment in order to relieve symptoms. Our team performs an evaluation to recommend the optimal approach for you.
If you have a problem with sinus drainage or if you have an issue with the tubes that drain your ears (your Eustachian tubes), these issues can be exacerbated depending on the position of your head while you sleep.
For instance, sleeping on your side or with your head relatively flat can prevent drainage and lead to a buildup of fluids. In these instances, elevating your head with a supportive pillow or switching to a back-sleeping position may help.
You might not think you can become dehydrated while you sleep, but you can, especially if your room air is very dry. Dehydration can lead to fluid imbalances in your sinuses and ears that, in turn, can lead to clogged sensations. Using a humidifier in your room and drinking plenty of fluids during the day can help.
These causes of clogged ears are all relatively benign, but other issues can play a role, too — including some underlying health conditions that need prompt treatment. If you have chronically clogged ears in the morning or at any time, having an evaluation is essential for preventing potentially serious problems, including permanent hearing loss.
Our team is skilled in diagnostic techniques to help get to the root cause of hearing problems, whatever the cause or causes might be. To learn what’s causing your clogged ears or to schedule a hearing evaluation, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at ENT Specialists in Salt Lake City, Murray, Draper, and Tooele, Utah, today.
