ask: How do you quickly clear a clogged ear from too much nose blowing?
Hello everyone!
A dear friend of mine called me tonight to ask me for some advice on how to fix her clogged-up ear. It seems she is getting over a bad cold and was doing some heavy-duty nose blowing and her left ear feels all funny now. Sort of like when you're on a plane and your ears pop. Hers needs to pop but won't. I thought maybe a decongestant would help her, or opening her mouth as wide as she can--that helps me sometimes when my ears won't pop on a plane. She tried opening her mouth and even moving her jaw back and forth but it didn't do anything.
She said it's hard to hear now in her left ear and it feels very full and has a bit of pressure, so she's hoping to get it back to normal pretty fast. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for her? I also tried to gently remind her not to blow her nose with such force so hopefully this won't happen again. Thanks so much everyone, Michelle
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Simple explanation: Since she has a cold and the Eustachian tube connects to her ear, it will most likely clear up on it's own. Decongestants may help (dry up areas). However, it is possible she has extra fluid in her ear, which can result in otitis media (middle ear infection). In that case, if it doesn't clear up on it's own, she can try an over the counter ear drop. The clogged feeling can be typical during a cold.
May 17, 2009 - 9:49pmThis Comment
Try chewing a nice wad of gum . My ears just did the same thing and it helped a bit .
June 11, 2009 - 2:17pmHope this helps .
There are ear drops that are sold OTC (for swimmer's ear), that work when ears are "clogged up".
You can also make your own drops, using white vinegar diluted with equal amount of water. Just use a medicine dropper to put a few drops in ear canal, then after a few minutes, turn your head to the side to remove liquid.
I would ask a Pharmacist what they would recommend...just go to your neighborhood CVS, Walgreens or other local pharmacy.
June 11, 2009 - 2:30pmTwo great remedies to unplug one's ears are yawning. You can force a yawn-like pressure by opening your mouth and trying to yawn. It's not the actual yawn, but the movement of those same muscles that can unplug your ears.
Or, with your mouth closed, plug your nose with your fingers and exhale strongly through your nose. This also works, but is a little more difficult than the above to unplug the ears and can sometimes cause a little bit of pain.
Good luck!
June 12, 2009 - 10:28amWhoa! That second option might actually cause some people to pass out if they exhale too hard!
May 11, 2010 - 12:39amBy the way...
My own remedy is to place the thumb sideways on that little hanging bit of skin where earrings commonly go and gently push into the jaw while also pushing up toward the top of the ear (you should feel a little knob of cartilage there). Then slowly tilt that ear toward the ground and hold your head sideways until it opens up. It usually takes just a few seconds,
This worked for me!!!! Thank you!!!
December 13, 2011 - 12:22pmHow exactly do you do that? I've been trying it and it doesn't seem to work :(
December 22, 2011 - 1:35ami just want to say I LOVE YOU anonymous poster who just cleared my horendously annoying ear! I love you
February 8, 2012 - 5:44pmThanks to shannon I now have 2 clogged ears
September 30, 2011 - 1:22amthis response just made me laugh hysterically, clogged ears and all!
January 30, 2012 - 8:24pm