There are many ways allergies can impact your body. Maybe you’re prone to hives, or your eyes get all red and watery the second you set foot in Bittersweet Park. One side effect of allergies you might not expect is ear pain or fullness. Let’s look at why that happens and what you can do to find relief.
The Ear, Nose & Throat Connection
Inflammation in the sinuses and throat is a very common side effect of allergies. That inflammation is what causes your throat to hurt and your sinuses to clog with mucus. The nose and throat are also connected to the ears via thin canals called Eustachian tubes.
The Eustachian tubes are responsible for balancing pressure in and draining fluid from the middle ear. When inflammation spreads from the sinuses or throat to the Eustachian tubes, it can cause the tubes to swell. As your Eustachian tubes swell, they lose their ability to balance pressure and drain fluid effectively. As a result, your ear can feel clogged or even develop an infection from the trapped fluid.
Managing Ear Pain During Allergy Season
The first step in managing allergy-related ear pain is to address the underlying condition. Try taking allergy medication like an antihistamine or decongestant. Both types of medication can relieve the inflammation in your ears and lessen discomfort.
In addition to allergy medication, you can apply alternating warm and cold compresses to the affected ear. Place a damp towel in the microwave and heat it in ten-second intervals until it’s comfortably warm. Hold the towel against your ear until its warmth fades, and then repeat with a cold towel. You can place an ice pack or a damp towel in the freezer for half an hour or so to bring it to the right temperature. Make sure your towel isn’t so damp that water drips into your ear.
The final way you can relieve some ear pressure is by drinking plenty of fluids to thin mucus and ease congestion.[1] Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, more if you’re exercising or spending time in the heat.
If your ear pain continues for more than a few days, or you need help managing your allergies, contact Alpine Ear Nose & Throat PC today.
[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Nasal congestion. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17980-nasal-congestion