During the colder months, ear infections can become more prevalent in adults and children alike. Having an ear infection is no fun, as one may guess, and can happen easier than one might think. Below, you will find several key tips on how to prevent an ear infection when it is cold outside.
Keep Ears Clean
One of the best ways to prevent an ear infection no matter the season is to keep your ears clean, inside and out. Keeping your ears clean will reduce wax buildup, which can help to harbor bacteria within the warm, moist chamber. It will also help you to hear better! One should avoid using Q-tips if there is a risk of pushing wax farther back into the ear canal. Wiping your ears after a warm shower is perhaps the best time to clean your ears.
Keep Ears Warm
Although the cold itself cannot make you sick, it can help to preserve the health of your ears overall. During very cold weather, one should make sure to protect their ears with a hat, a scarf, earmuffs, or another item of clothing that can keep them warm. If you have sensitive ears, you will understand!
Keep Health Up
Our ears are connected to our throats via Eustachian tubes, which link the inner ear to the throat. Because of this connection, one can experience an ear infection when one gets a cough or cold. The virus or bacteria can travel up the tubes and infect the ears as well. For this reason, it is best to keep your health up as best you can, eat healthy, sleep well, and take supplements appropriately.
Avoid Cigarette Smoke
Irritants can also cause an ear infection. If you have allergies, do your best to mitigate them to help yourself and your ears. Meanwhile, cigarette smoke can also cause an ear infection. It can cause issues whether you smoke yourself or if you get secondhand exposure. Avoid it at all costs to prevent an ear infection.
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.