Can the weather cause ear problems? Actually, it can!
The weather is a mysterious thing, and it is even more mysterious how the weather seems to give us completely unrelated aches, pains, and moods. Actually, the relationship between the weather and our health might not be so cryptic after all, at least not concerning our ears. Can the weather affect your ears?
Weather-Related Ear Problems
Popping Ears from Barometric Pressure
Barometric pressure is the pressure of air on the earth. Low barometric pressure means the air is rising, but high barometric pressure means the air is sinking. Low pressure allows for rainfall, while high pressure is conducive to clear, sunny days. When this pressure changes a lot, your ears can feel it. Most commonly, you can feel it when you change altitudes quickly. The higher your elevation, the lower the pressure. A sudden change in atmospheric pressure can lead to popping ears.
Ear Pressure from Allergies
If you have seasonal allergies, then the weather can affect your ears in this way, too, at least indirectly. The ears are connected to the nose and throat through the Eustachian tubes, and respiratory problems can cause ears to become stuffy or infected, too.
Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear is not necessarily seasonal, but could be indirectly related to the season of summer when swimming is at an all-time high. Swimmer’s ear is a bacterial infection caused by exposure to hazardous waters. It is important to get treatment as soon as possible.
Earwax Buildup or Ear Pain from the Cold
Cold weather can certainly cause hearing problems, too. At the very least, it can cause significant ear pain. Don’t be haphazard about your hearing health; it is worth protecting your ears! Your body will generally produce more earwax the hotter and more humid it is, but in the cold, earwax can harden and become harder to remove.
Ear Pressure or Pain from Pressure Changes
The most significant and direct impact the weather has on ears remains the changing atmospheric pressure. If you have an underlying ear condition, the change in pressure will be felt even more keenly, potentially resulting in ear pain and dizziness.
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.