Keep your ears protected in the chilliest season of the year and enjoy your holidays!
It’s freezing outside, and you are walking around the neighborhood, the shopping center, or the Christmas market. You notice that every time you go outside, your ears hurt like crazy and turn red. “Why do my ears hurt when it’s cold, and are my ears going to get injured if I don’t protect them?” We’ll go over these things right here.
Reasons Your Ears Hurt When It’s Cold
Blood Vessels
When the temperature drops, atoms huddle together to conserve energy. Things contract when it’s cold, including blood vessels. It may be why our faces and ears get red in the cold; they are also supplying a greater blood flow and heat to areas that get very cold. Some people have a lot more blood vessels in their ears than others; that is why some people’s ears are more sensitive to the cold than others.
Aggravated Infection
If you already have an infection in your ear, throat, or sinus, then the cold could aggravate the affected areas even more. These parts that are already inflamed will only hurt more. Your ears can also hurt simply by having a cold.
Increased Risk of Infection
Ear pain can also occur because of a weakened immune system due to colder temperatures. You may be in the process of catching a germ as your body adjusts to the cold weather; fighting off disease can be harder for your body in a cold environment.
How to Protect Your Ears from the Cold
Wear Protective Clothing
Protecting your ears is as easy as putting up your hood, wearing a hat, wearing a scarf over your head, or wearing ear muffs. A combination never hurts and may be necessary to keep your ears and head perfectly warm. Your head and neck can lose more heat than anywhere else and are worth protecting.
Warm Your Ears Gradually
Once you are in a warm place, allow your chilled ears to warm up slowly. Exposure to warmer air alone is a good start. Avoid putting your ears in shock; if you need a stronger solution, rub your ears with your hands or use a compress.
Trust the Experts at Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions
Need help with your hearing? Clarity Hearing can help. Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions is an independently owned and operated clinic that focuses on quality of care and personalized, friendly service to the surrounding areas of Ellicott City, Catonsville, Columbia. Our Doctors of Audiology are highly trained with advanced degrees and take the time to provide the personalized care and attention that you need and deserve. We provide advanced hearing aid options that are personally calibrated with cutting-edge digital technology to fit your hearing loss, your unique ear anatomy, and your individual listening needs.
You can call us today to schedule a FREE Hearing Protection Consultation at 410-698-6594! For more blog posts, news, and updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.