How Do Allergies Affect Your Ears
Allergies develop whenever your immune system reacts to a typically nontoxic object as though it were a genuine threat to your health. It responds by releasing antibodies that fight the allergen and releasing a chemical known as histamine.
Histamine causes the sinuses to generate excessive mucus, which can subsequently stream down the cavity of the middle ear, causing ear pain as well as throat irritation. Simultaneously, tissue swelling may hinder fluid outflow, resulting in congestion. Because the ear canals link to the Eustachian tubes, you may develop ear pain allergies and other symptoms.
What About Herbal Remedies
If your symptom of blocked ears is caused by seasonal allergies, then seeking treatment for the underlying problem is likely to bring the most effective, long-term relief, and will also help with other symptoms of hayfever you are experiencing.
Herbal remedies such as Pollinosan Allergy Relief Tablets combine seven different tropical herbs designed to target the symptoms of hayfever. It is a non-drowsy medication so will not affect your ability to drive or use machinery.
If you are looking for a herbal remedy specifically to target blocked ears, then Plantago is often found to be effective. It is thought to reduce the amount of inflammation present in the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.
Seasonal Allergies And Hearing Loss
Each year millions of people in this U.S. seek treatment for seasonal allergies. The other symptoms like congestion might keep them suffering enough that they fail to notice a change in their hearing. The ears rely on sound waves reaching a nerve in the inner ear, so they can be translated into something the brain can understand and allergies interfere with that process.
An allergic response typically leads to swelling and congestion. They, in turn, change the fluid pressure and prevent sound from traveling to the inner ear. You might notice pressure or a sense of fullness in the ears when that happens. The body produces more earwax in response to an allergy, too, creating a buildup that blocks sound.
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Allergens Can Travel Through Your Ears
Allergens and pollens travel through the air, so you can breathe them in, but they can also travel through your body through your ears. This is why you might notice your ears itching when youre out in an allergy-inducing environment. There are tiny tubes that lead from your nose to your ear canal. These tubes allow air to travel both ways. If youre allergic and youre in a place with the allergens that are causing you to have a reaction, some of the allergens can travel through these tiny tubes into your ear. This can cause itching and discomfort in your ear as well as ringing.
How Are Your Ears Affected
Our ears are made up of three parts the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. Allergic reactions can cause the outer ear to itch or swell. The middle ear contains the Eustachian tube, which acts as a drainage tube of sorts. When mucus clogs the middle ear it affects that drainage. Pressure builds, which can lead to discomfort, popping in the ears or an earache. Your middle ear may itch as well. The inner ear is filled with fluid, and if this fluid becomes infected, you may suffer dizziness, ringing in the ear or loss of balance.
Sometimes a stuffy nose and sinus pressure can radiate to the ears, causing pressure or earaches.
Some people experience a short-term hearing loss due to an allergic reaction. This is known as conductive hearing loss and usually is temporary and resolves itself when the allergies subside.
Young children commonly experience middle ear infections, which may be triggered by allergies. These infections are known as otitis media. If these occur often, a professional may recommend allergy tests.
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Allergies And Your Ears
Some of the most common allergy symptoms include sneezing, itchy eyes, coughing or a sore throat, explains Dr. Watts. But there is another less common, yet quite painful, allergy symptom that plagues some people ear pain.
The lining of the Eustachian tube can become swollen when your immune system overreacts to an allergen. This swelling can cause pressure and pain along with fluid buildup and a blocked ear.
How Do Allergies Cause Ear Infections
When your body is allergic to something, one of its ways of protecting you from the potential threat of the allergen is to produce excess mucus as a means of keeping allergen particles from entering the rest of your body. Meanwhile, when the allergen does come into contact with your sinus tissues, those tissues can become enlarged and inflamed.
All of these reactionsthe inflammation, the excess mucus, and the issues with chronic sinus drainagecan lead to ear infections. When excess mucus is unable to exit the body, many patients experience chronic drainage issues, including a buildup of fluid and puss in the middle ear.
And like your sinus tissues, the membrane surrounding the eustachian tube can also become inflamed. When this happens a build-up of fluid and pressure can occur in the middle ear, leading to a painful ear infection.
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Why Are Ear Infections More Common In Children
The eustachian tube spends most of its time closed and typically only opens if it needs to during activities such as swallowing, yawning, or chewing. As a person ages, the eustachian tubes can change. Adults typically have a vertical tube that is wide and rigid, making it easier for any fluids to pass through and drain out of the ear. In children, that draining process is more difficult because their tubes are more horizontal, more narrow, shorter, and less stiff. This is why children are more prone to ear infections.
Can Allergies Contribute To Ear Pain
Once your immune system starts releasing histamine, you may experience ear pain. Ear pain caused by allergies typically occurs due to three different issues:
- Inflammation blocks the drainage of your Eustachian tubes
- Fluid build-ups in the middle ear, creating pressure
- Bacteria can grow in this fluid and lead to infection
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How To Know If Youre Allergic To Something
- First, lets discuss how youd go about finding out whether youre allergic to something. In order to test for allergies, youll need to make an appointment with an allergist.
- Theyll ask you to keep a diary detailing what you ate when you ate it and any physical symptoms you experienced in the days following.
- If its an environmental allergy thats causing your symptoms, such as seasonal allergies, youll likely notice a trend in your diary. For example, you may notice that you have a reaction every time you step outside.
- If your diary indicates you may have an allergy, your allergist will most likely perform a skin test.
- If the results indicate that youre allergic to a certain substance, the allergist will recommend you get allergy shots to help reduce your immune response and stop the itching and swelling.
How Allergies Cause Ear Pain
When a person is near something they are allergic to, the allergen binds to their allergic antibodies that are bound to mast cells or basophils. This process results in the release of histamines. Histamines are compounds that play a role in the bodys immune response. They trigger an inflammatory response.
Nasal allergies, specifically, are to blame when it comes to ear pain. This is because the inflammation that occurs in the mucous membranes that line the nasal and ear cavities can cause a blockage in the ear. When fluid cannot drain away because of that blockage, it builds up and causes pressure and pain.
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Can Allergies Cause Ear Drainage
Ear allergies can cause fluid to build up in your ear canals and also at the back of your eardrums. Ear allergy is a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the ear canal.
This can lead to inflammation and damage to the inner ear, which can result in hearing loss. Ear allergies can also occur in people who are allergic to certain foods, such as peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, soy, wheat and dairy products.
Should You Worry If You Have Ear Pain
Even though many people have concerns when experiencing pain in the ears, sometimes it’s just the result of a seasonal allergy. If your ear pain is accompanied by a runny nose, increased mucus production, and otitis media, it could be an allergy to pollen, pet dander, or dust mites.
On the other hand, if you have a fever, body aches, or other signs of infection, it could be something more serious.
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How Allergy Medication Helps
The good news is there are several options you can get over the counter to meet your allergy needs. Some of these might require proactive use, such as taking them before you begin to experience any symptoms. The most common over-the-counter options include antihistamines and decongestants.
If your allergies include earaches or ear infections, you might need additional medication. For some people, pain medication can do wonders. If you prefer not to medicate your ear pain, consider using a warm washcloth.
When symptoms persist or become severe, your doctor may prescribe stronger medication. For example, there are some ear drops that may reduce the feeling of pressure build-up in the ear and reduce the pain. If your doctor determines you have an ear infection, he or she might also prescribe antibiotics.
The Skin And Allergies
An allergic response can affect the skin with swelling and an itchy rash, too. The ear has a considerable amount of skin that is at risk when allergies hit. There is the skin that covers the outer ear, known as the pinna, for example. The ear canal is covered with skin that can swell and itch enough to close the passage and prevent sound waves from moving forward.
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Can Hay Fever Affect My Hearing
Allergies such as hay fever and pollen allergies tend to rise during the summer months due to an increase in pollen levels, potentially causing temporary hearing problems. Our bodies treat pollen as a harmful substance and therefore attempt to defend the body by releasing a chemical called histamine. Once histamine has been released, it can result in the membrane lining of our Eustachian tube becoming inflamed. An inflammation of the Eustachian tube can bring about an imbalance in pressure, creating the feeling of blocked ears.
Hay fever is a common allergy that many people suffer from. Common symptoms of hay fever are sneezing and congestion, resulting in an excessive mucus build-up in the middle ear. This can prevent sound waves from vibrating the tiny bones inside your middle ear that help you to hear sounds clearly, forming an interesting connection between hay fever and hearing loss . An excessive buildup of mucus can also prevent the Eustachian tube from draining properly, causing added pressure to the ears.
If you have any urgent concerns about your hearing, please consult your local GP for medical advice.
Ear Popping And Fullness
Ear popping and sensations of the ear feeling full are common symptoms of allergies, states the American Academy of Family Physicians 1. This can occur if the mucus produced by an allergic reaction, drains into the Eustachian tube. This tube travels from the back of the ear into the throat. Its job is to drain excess fluid from the ear and equalize the pressure in the ears. If the lining of this tube becomes inflamed, then the ears may start to feel full and pop.
Since the ears play a role in maintaining balance, inflammation can lead to a loss of balance, dizziness and even vertigo. The first step in treatment, is to identify the allergen that is triggering the symptoms, and then taking steps to lower exposure when possible
- Ear popping and sensations of the ear feeling full are common symptoms of allergies, states the American Academy of Family Physicians 1.
- If the lining of this tube becomes inflamed, then the ears may start to feel full and pop.
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Hay Fever Can Cause Stuffy Ears
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that more than 50 million Americans experience allergies at some point during the year, with spring allergies being the most common. This type of allergy, known as hay fever, is caused by exposure to mold spores and pollenating trees, grasses and weeds.
Allergies are the result of your immune system overreacting to a foreign substance that is normally harmless. During this overreaction, the chemical histamine is produced, which is what is responsible for your allergy symptoms, including increased mucus production and inflammation.
This inflammation can affect your Eustachian tubes the passageways connecting your middle ears to your throat. These tubes are responsible for allowing fluids to drain. When the tubes are swollen, fluid becomes trapped, leading to a plugged or stuff-up feeling in the ears.
Hay Fever And Hearing Loss
Hay fever is a common allergy that many people suffer from. Common symptoms of hay fever are sneezing and congestion, resulting in an excessive mucus build-up in the middle ear. This can prevent sound waves from vibrating the tiny bones inside your middle ear that help you to hear sounds clearly. Therefore, a temporary hearing loss can occur as a consequence of hay fever. An excessive build up of mucus can also prevent the eustachian tube from draining properly, causing added pressure to the ears.
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Is It Possible To Treat Ear Pain Caused By Allergies
Ear pain due to an allergic reaction can be uncomfortable, but you can treat it. Over-the-counter medications can provide short-term relief for your symptoms. Some of the most effective include:
- Antihistamines: These allergy medications block the production of histamine and temporarily relieve symptoms caused by allergies
- Saline nasal rinse: Through a nasal spray or neti pot, saline nasal rinses remove allergens and mucus from the nose and sinuses
- Corticosteroid nasal spray: These nasal sprays reduce inflammation in the sinuses and can allow the Eustachian tubes to drain
When allergies affect your ears, reducing exposure to your allergens can also help with ear pain and fluid buildup. For instance, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever, staying indoors when pollen counts are high can help your allergies subside.
Those with environmental allergens to dust or mold should address areas where these culprits hide, including dark, damp areas, and places where dust gathers, like carpets and behind drapery.
A cold compress over your outer ear doesn’t cure middle ear infections or allergies, but it can help manage ear pain, especially if you have inflamed Eustachian tubes. The coldness of the compress decreases inflammation and reduces earaches.
If you are practicing avoidance of your allergens and trying over-the-counter medications and still suffering from congestion, itchy eyes, and middle ear pressure, it’s time to consider long-lasting solutions.
How Allergies Impact The Ear
An allergy is an immune response by the body to a foreign substance that causes hypersensitivity, such as pollen, grass, fur, some foods, dust mites or drugs.
Most allergies commonly affect the middle ear because of the Eustachian tube. This is a part of the ear that works to release pressure, sort of like a drainage tube. When an allergic reaction causes swelling or mucus to form, pressure builds and the Eustachian tube doesnt drain properly, leading to difficulty hearing. It may feel as if your ears are full or that everything sounds dampened. This is usually a temporary problem known as conductive hearing loss.
The Eustachian tube also plays a role in balance. If its blocked due to an allergic reaction, you might feel dizzy or lightheaded.
Sometimes, mostly in children, the fluid in the ear becomes infected. This is known as otitis media, a middle ear infection. If these infections occur often, a doctor may recommend allergy testing.
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Fluid In The Ear And Allergies
The most common ear problem seen in patients with allergies is fluid in the ear or middle ear effusion. Allergic reactions have been proposed as being responsible for some cases of hearing loss and fluid in the middle portion of the ear.
Most of the middle ear effusions occur under two years of age and the incidence continues to decrease by the age of ten years. There seems to be an increased incidence during the winter and spring months, apparently related to an increase in respiratory tract infections.
The fluid in the middle ear may be clear and watery this is usually seen following respiratory infections and flare up of allergic nasal congestion. In glue ear, the effusion consists of thick and cloudy fluid. These gluey secretions are more prone to recurrent infections if they persist on a long term basis.
Children with fluid in the ear often complain of being stopped up or having popping ears. The older child and young adult may complain of having a hearing loss and of a feeling of fullness in the ear. The fluid in the middle ear is the most prevalent cause of hearing loss in school age children. These children are often described by teachers and parents as being inattentive, loud talkers, and slow learners. When middle ear effusion is present for a long period of time, there may be a delay in language development and learning resulting in poor school performance. Some of the children are prone to frequent ear infections with high fever and earaches.
