When the weather starts to turn chilly, you may notice something unexpected along with the colder mornings: your ears hurt. Cold air can make your ears feel sore or sensitive, but the weather itself isn’t always the whole story.
Why Does Cold Weather Make Your Ears Hurt?
Your ears contain sensitive tissues and blood vessels that respond to changes in temperature and pressure. Cold, dry air can also irritate the tissues lining your nose and upper airways. When those tissues become swollen or congested, the eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, may not open as easily,[1] leading to ear pressure. The all-too-common occurrence of a winter cold or flu can also inflame the sinuses, throat and ears.
What Can You Do About Cold-Weather Ear Pain?
If your ears are uncomfortable outdoors, keeping them covered with a warm hat or earmuffs can help reduce direct exposure to cold air. It’s also worth paying attention to what happens after you come back inside. Occasional discomfort that quickly fades may be less concerning than pain that keeps returning or sticks around.
A few simple habits may help:
- Keep your ears covered when you’re on a long and chilly walk along Boyd Lake
- Stay hydrated and address nasal congestion with decongestants when you’re sick
- Pay attention to symptoms such as drainage, hearing changes or significant pressure
Knowing when to seek help for ear pain is also crucial.
When Should I See an ENT for Ear Pain?
A little ear discomfort on a cold morning may pass once you warm up. Persistent pain is different. There are several conditions that can cause persistent ear pain, like ear and sinus infections, colds or flu, and finding the cause is the first step toward appropriate care.
You should see an ENT if ear pain is severe, keeps coming back or lasts for more than a few days, particularly if you also have hearing loss, drainage, fever or worsening symptoms. One of our ENT specialists at Alpine Ear Nose & Throat PC can examine your ears and determine whether the discomfort is related to an infection, pressure problem, inflammation or another cause.
[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Eustachian tube dysfunction: Symptoms, causes & treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22527-eustachian-tube-dysfunction