home Diseases How to get it out of your ears: wax plugs, cotton wool, water at home. What to do if water gets into your ear

How to get it out of your ears: wax plugs, cotton wool, water at home. What to do if water gets into your ear

Water can get into the ear in various ways - while taking a bath, washing your hair, face or ears, while diving and swimming in a pool or natural body of water: sea, river, lake.

If you do not remove it from your ear immediately, it may cause various diseases and inflammatory processes, some can lead to dangerous consequences and affect the quality of hearing. It is especially important to quickly and correctly remove water from the ears. small child.

Water very often gets into the ears under a variety of conditions. water procedures oh and swimming, diving, but in most cases it flows out on its own, naturally.

If a person makes sudden movements when water gets into the ear, it may flow too deep, so special measures will need to be taken.

If there is water in the ear, a person experiences unpleasant symptoms:

Feeling of stuffy, clogged ear.
Unpleasant pressure from within.
Hearing impairment - as if one ear is blocked.
Gurgling and overflow of fluid in the ears.
Soreness.

Water getting into the ears is very annoying, so a person looks for various ways How to get rid of water in the ear as quickly as possible. During this period, it is very important not to get too excited and not to grab the first available “means at hand.” This may cause serious harm health and hearing quality.

Danger signs and complications

If water is not removed from the ear in time, it can cause the development of an inflammatory process. It is usually accompanied by strong “shooting” or aching pain in the ear, which can radiate to the temple, neck, eye or jaw. Such pain may feel like toothache, and also create the impression of a headache.

During the inflammatory process, the patient's body temperature rises, and pus and ichor may flow from the ear. The most dangerous thing is perforation, which can cause permanent hearing loss or even loss of hearing.

A purulent process in the ear is a huge health risk, since the source of infection is in close proximity to the brain, eyes, blood vessels and large nerves.

All this can provoke such the most dangerous conditions and diseases such as meningitis, sepsis, inflammation, strangulation and paresis facial nerve, purulent infections leather and fabrics, inflammatory diseases eyes and mouth, many other problems.

To prevent this from happening, you need to know well how to get rid of water in the ear quickly, painlessly and safely for the health and condition of the ears.

Ways to get rid of water in the ear

There are several available ways how to get rid of water in the ear. The main safety condition is that no improvised means such as sticks, hairpins, bobby pins, pencils or other dangerous objects can be used to extract liquid.

Best methods:

The fastest and easiest way to extract water is to tightly close the second ear with your finger and tilt your head towards the ear with water. The liquid should flow out on its own. If this does not help, you can jump a little, “shaking out” the water.
You can try to create a vacuum by tightly closing one ear with your finger or palm, and then suddenly opening it by tilting your head to the side. Repeat with the other ear if water gets into both at once.
Roll a long soft turunda out of cotton wool and use rotational movements to clean your ear. If there is a lot of water, you will need to make and use several turundas.
Sometimes, to extract water, it is enough to simply lie on your side - the water should flow out by gravity.
If the liquid is deep in the ear, you can apply. This will allow the passage to “open up” so that the water can be removed or it will simply flow out through the nasal passages.

Problems may arise if there is a buildup of wax in the ear or has already formed. The sulfur will swell from the water, and the patient will suffer from unpleasant and painful sensations. In such a situation, it is better not to experiment with your health and immediately contact. It will quickly and practically painlessly remove the cork and the water along with it.

You should also contact an ENT doctor in cases where water getting into the ear causes pain, fever and other alarming symptoms.

Prohibited actions:

Under no circumstances should you slap your palms on your ears, trying to “knock” the water out of them. Acoustic shock can cause injury that may impair your hearing. You should not pick your ear with metal or other objects not intended for this purpose, risking damage to the eardrum, the walls of the ear canal, and causing infection.
Do not try to insert a cotton swab deeply, trying to extract all the water. This can lead to injury, and if there is wax plugged, it will push it deep into the ear canal.
You should not try to dry your ears with a hairdryer - the ear canal is narrow and quite long, winding. Drying water in it is difficult and takes a very long time, but you can get burned very easily and quickly.
There is also a big risk associated with instilling heated alcohol into the ear. However, when combined with water, alcohol releases thermal energy and can therefore cause burns to the internal membranes.

You can protect yourself and your children from water getting into your ears. by simple means. When swimming, you should wear a rubber cap. It covers your ears securely if worn correctly and sized correctly.

Also, when swimming and swimming in the pool, you should use special earplugs.

They tightly close the ear canal and prevent water from entering it. Warm mineral oil is used for the same purpose, as well as special drops in the ears for swimmers. They create a barrier of oil film that prevents water from entering the ears.

When washing your hair and bathing or showering, water from your ears should be removed immediately using a soft terry towel or cotton pad. This simple action can protect against very unpleasant consequences for good health.

How to remove water from your ear after it gets stuck after swimming? In most cases, the water comes out of the ear on its own. However, in some situations it may linger in the ear canal.

Water inside the ear canal after bathing and prolonged exposure can lead to ear redness, inflammation, pain and even infection.

For example, an infection of the external auditory canal known as swimmer's ear is caused by Pseudomonas bacteria found in soil and water.

You can remove water from your ears quite easily if you do it immediately after swimming or showering. Water in the ears can cause a tickling sensation, and in some cases, it can affect your hearing.

Create a vacuum. Tilt your head towards the ear where the water remains. Gently press down on your ear with your palm to create a vacuum. A suction effect is created in the center of the palm. With a soft and quick movement, lift your palm down.

You can also tilt your ear towards your shoulder and block the ear hole. thumb hands. By pressing on the ear, you will create a vacuum. After this, quickly release your finger. The movement may need to be repeated several times.

Attention: This movement cannot be done by lifting the affected ear upward, because then you will push the water even further into the ear canal. A vacuum can be created with your thumb. Make sure you don't put your finger in the ear hole. Your finger should be clean and your nails short.

What to do if there is water stuck in your ear

Alcohol swab in the ear. Medical alcohol 5-6 drops on a swab and put in the ear with water. Alcohol draws water out of the ear. There is an opinion that you can instill 5-6 drops medical alcohol directly into the ear for 30 seconds with your head on your side. Then turn your head to the other side to allow the alcohol to flow onto the towel. Also repeat the process on the other side. Before starting this method, consult with a doctor you trust.

Olive oil. It has antiseptic properties, so may reduce the risk of developing an ear infection. Some people place a couple of drops of olive oil in each ear before bathing to lubricate the ear canal and prevent water from entering the ear.

Wherein olive oil needs to be slightly warmed up small cup. Use a dropper to drop into the affected ear. Hold for 10 minutes. Then they tilt their head to the side so that the oil flows out along with the liquid.

Ear drops at the pharmacy. You can also purchase ear drops from a pharmacy. These drops, consisting of a combination of isopropyl alcohol and anhydrous glycerin, are specifically used to draw water out of the ear.

How to get water out of your ear

Imitation of yawning or chewing. These movements relieve tension in the eustachian tubes, which connect the passages of the middle ear and the back of the nostril, regulating air pressure. Water can accumulate in the eustachian tubes, but yawning and chewing movements can help remove water from the ear after bathing.

Some people try to open the eustachian tubes with next appointment: deep breath, closes your mouth and pinches your nostrils with your fingers. After which they try to gently and slowly exhale air through a pinched nose.

Please note: this movement should not be done too quickly or forcefully, otherwise the eardrum may be damaged.

How to shake water out of your ear

Tilt your head to the side and stretch your earlobe. Gently pull your earlobe down while tilting your head to the side. In this pose, you can slightly jump up and down. When exiting the pool, you can tilt your head down and to the side and shake your head a little. In most cases, water will pour out of the ear.

Steam inhalation. This can remove water from the ear by opening the Eustachian tubes. Boil water in a saucepan. Cover your head with a towel, tilt your head down towards the cup and inhale the steam slowly for 5-10 minutes. Tilt your head to the side to get water out of your ear.

When to see a doctor

Under no circumstances should you use cotton swabs or earplugs, as they may push water trapped in your ear further.

If you have tried all these steps and do not know how to remove water from your ear after swimming, then consult a doctor. Don't wait a few days. During this time, ear inflammation may begin. Contact your doctor when you begin to experience signs of infection, such as pain, swelling, or redness in the ear canal.

You should contact your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

Yellow, yellow-green pus or foul odor from the ear.
Ear pain that increases when you pull on the outer ear.
Hearing loss.
Itching of the ear canal or the ear itself.

Currently, this disease is one of the most common. The increase in the incidence of this disease is associated with people's passion for recreational swimming.

Situation one: water got into the external auditory canal .

Typical symptoms are discomfort in the ear area, a feeling of gurgling or fluid pouring inside the ear, and sometimes even in the head. Because of the last symptom, some people panic: have they brought an infection to the brain with water (after all, everyone has heard since childhood that an infection from the ear often spreads to the brain). Fears intensify after fruitless attempts to pour water out of the ear canal: if it does not pour out when tilting the head, it means it is already deep inside. Such fears are unfounded. In a person with healthy ears, water cannot get anywhere beyond the external auditory canal. And to get rid of such fears, it is enough to know the basics of anatomy. First, you need to remember that a person has not two ears, but three - the outer, middle and inner. The outer ear is not only the auricle, but also the external auditory canal, which goes deeper. Water accumulates in it, it cannot pass further, the path of the liquid is blocked by the eardrum. Behind this strong barrier, deep in the bone, lies the middle ear, then the inner ear.

Situation two: water behaves aggressively.

If, after removing the water, you continue to experience tinnitus, a feeling of fullness in the ear and decreased hearing, then two typical complications are possible. The first complication is “broken radio syndrome.” The wax plug swollen with water and blocked the ear canal. This situation is very typical and unpleasant: the world around begins to “phon” like a poorly working radio. Only a doctor can deal with it; it is impossible to remove the plug with ear cotton swabs. It is necessary to rinse the ear canal with a syringe, exactly the same as the one used to inject Morgunov in “Prisoner of the Caucasus.” There is no need to be afraid of this, they will not stab you. Traffic jams are often repeated. Any prevention is useless, and ENT doctors advise you to come to terms with this “natural phenomenon”, recommending that you come to them once every six months to clean your ears with a “horse” syringe. The second complication is inflammation of the external auditory canal. Noise and congestion are accompanied by itching, pain and discharge with unpleasant smell. It is better to be treated by a doctor so that the inflammation does not spread. And treatment is rarely complete without antibiotics or antiseptics.

Situation three: water got into the middle ear.

How water can get there is bypassing. From average ear goes a very narrow, long and secret canal that opens deep in the nose. Doctors call it the Eustachian tube, named after the anatomist who first described it. Air passes through the pipe, which equalizes Atmosphere pressure, exerted on the eardrum from the outside. No matter how narrow the Eustachian tube is and no matter how deep in the nose it is hidden, water sometimes fills it. This happens when diving or if you “sip” water with your nose. If the fluid reaches the middle ear and lingers there, then ear congestion and lumbago are guaranteed. Such a “swimmer’s ear” will be more serious than water in the external auditory canal. But you can still get rid of such water.

How to treat swimmer's ear.

If water gets into the external auditory canal, then this is not difficult to do. There are three ways to do this: The first method is eccentric. You've probably seen people on the beach bouncing on one leg with their heads bowed and making strange “pumping” movements with their palms in the ear area. This works for some, but there are better ways. The second method is calm. Lie on your side so that your ear with the water is down. Make a few swallowing movements and try to move your ears. Water may spill out. The third method is medical. Insert a thin and long flagellum rolled out of cotton wool into your ear. It will quickly absorb water.

Warning!

Never remove water with cotton swabs for your ears. ENT doctors have a lot of complaints about them. Many people use them incorrectly. You can use cotton swabs only in the visible area, that is, at the very beginning of the ear canal. And since water accumulates deep, attempts to get it out often lead to injury to the ear canal or eardrum.

It is more difficult to remove water from the middle ear.

Swallow frequently to relieve symptoms. At night, insert a cotton pad soaked in a warm (but not hot!) solution into your ear. boric alcohol. Otipax or Otinum ear drops are also suitable. And at the same time, make a warm ear wrap with a warm woolen scarf. Conventional painkillers - aspirin, analgin, etc. - will help calm the “shooting” in the ear. And if the shooting is very strong, you need to see a doctor - it is possible that an infection has set in and the real thing has begun. otitis media(inflammation of the middle ear). The water in reservoirs is not sterile, and this scenario is possible.

Fluid in the ears can be bothersome and irritating, but you don't have to tolerate it. Although fluid usually comes out of the ears on its own, there are several simple ways which help speed up this process. You can remove the liquid yourself using simple techniques. You can also dry your ears using drops or a hair dryer. However, if you suspect you have an infection, you should see your doctor.

Attention: The information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any medicines consult your doctor.

Steps

Dry your ears

Clean your ears with hydrogen peroxide. Fill

half a pipette with hydrogen peroxide.

Tilt your head so that sore ear turned out to be on top, and drop hydrogen peroxide into it. After the crackling sound stops (usually up to five minutes), tilt your head so that the affected ear is on the bottom. Tug on your earlobe to allow fluid to flow out.

Hydrogen peroxide promotes evaporation of fluid and clears wax from the ears that may be retaining fluid.

Treatment of diseases

Use nasal decongestants (decongestants) for sinusitis or a cold. This will help clear fluid from your ears naturally. Take your medications according to the directions for use. You can use over-the-counter products, such as sprays (Otrivin, Afrin) or tablets (Rinopront).

If your ears do not clear up within 3-4 days, see your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe cortisone pills, such as Prednisolone or Medrol. Take your medications as directed by your doctor. Usually in such cases the ears clear in 3-4 days.
- These drugs reduce inflammation in the Eustachian tubes and thereby facilitate the removal of fluid.

Water in ears immediately causes unpleasant sensations - congestion appears in the ear and hearing decreases. If the water is not removed in time, inflammation develops, which is accompanied by pain and discharge from the ear. Sometimes inflammatory process is so pronounced that the redness of the ear canal is visible to the naked eye. Otolaryngologists have a special term for this problem - “swimmer’s ear.”

Water can get into your ears when swimming in open water, going to a swimming pool, or taking a shower.

Should I be afraid of water getting into my ears?

This question is often asked by mothers infants. When bathing, they try to keep the child's head above the water or cover the ear canals with cotton wool. These fears are unfounded. In small children, the ear canals are wide and water flows out of the bathing area without any hindrance.

Adults also don't have to worry about water getting into their ears. U healthy person Water does not stay in the ear for a long time and does not cause inflammation. Water cannot flow into the middle ear, since it is protected by the eardrum.

Who should be afraid of water in their ears?

Problems arise in such cases.

Wax has accumulated in the ear and a wax plug has formed. 70% of children have sulfur accumulations school age and in 30% of adults. If water stays in the ear, the plug swells. It increases in size, tightly blocks the ear canal, causing pain and inflammation of the ear - otitis media.

After the postponed chronic otitis, holes appeared in the eardrum. In this case, water enters the middle ear from the outer ear and causes otitis media.

Water got into the middle ear. This situation is possible if you inhaled water through your nose. Between the nasal cavity and the ear there is a narrow passage called the Eustachian tube. It ensures equalization of pressure on both sides of the eardrum. This tube carries water from the nose into the middle ear, causing congestion. Bacteria that could enter with water cause inflammation.

The walls of the ear canal are too sensitive. In this case, bleach and shampoo cause irritation. And irritated skin is very susceptible to bacteria. As a result, soon after water enters the ears, otitis externa develops.

Symptoms and signs of water in the ear

Usually an adult can accurately determine that water has entered his ear. This is eloquently evidenced by such symptoms.

Congestion. We feel the pressure of water on the sensitive tympanic septum, like congestion in the ear.
Hearing loss. Water accumulates in the ear canal. At the same time, it interferes with the transmission of sound waves to the tympanic septum, which causes temporary hearing impairment.
Feeling of water overflowing. Changes in the fluid level in the ear canal are detected by receptors on the eardrum. These vibrations are amplified by the auditory ossicles and transmitted to the middle ear.
Resonance in the blocked ear of one's voice, tinnitus. The presence of water near the eardrum distorts the perception of sounds. Your own voice, which is transmitted to the ear through the bones of the skull, seems distorted.
Earache. If you do not get rid of the water in the ears after 4-6 hours, then bacteria develop in it, which causes inflammation, pain and fever. Unpleasant sensations can also be caused by the pressure of a swollen wax plug.
Headache in the area of the affected ear. Inflammation in the ear causes irritation nerve endings cranial nerves innervating this area. One-sided headache does not mean that the inflammation has spread to the brain.

How to remove water from the ear?

If water has accumulated in the outer ear

Lie on your back. Turn your head towards the stuffy ear. This movement must be performed very slowly. It helps water flow down the side wall of the ear canal.
Make a soft flagellum from cotton wool. Pull your ear up and back to open your ear canal wider. Insert a small cotton pad into your ear for 10-15 seconds and it will absorb water. This method is suitable for young children.
Jump on one leg with your head tilted to the side. The vibrations will help the water flow out. If it doesn’t work, repeat the jumps, patting your ear with your palm. Place your palm firmly against your ear to force air out of the ear canal. Then quickly take your hand back. This way you reduce the pressure in auditory course, and help remove water
Lie with your stuffy ear down and make 3-4 swallowing movements. This will help tighten your muscles auricle, will vibrate the eardrum and push water out of the external auditory canal.

If water gets into the middle ear

Place any vasoconstrictor drops into your nose. They relieve swelling and help expand the nasal passages and eustachian tube. After 5-10 minutes, lie down on the opposite side so that the water drains out. inner ear leaked into my nose.
Eat warm spicy soup. Pepper and other hot seasonings cause a reflex muscle contraction and water comes out.
If you experience ear pain and shooting, use Otipax or Otinum ear drops. You won't remove the water, but you will relieve the pain.

If you have tried everything, but the congestion in your ear remains, then the cause is wax plug. Do not try to remove it yourself using a cotton swab. Such attempts lead to the fact that the sulfur becomes denser and is pushed deeper into the tympanic septum, which causes increased pain. You can put a few drops in your ear vegetable oil warmed to body temperature. Lie on the opposite side for 15-20 minutes so that the oil softens the sulfur. Then turn over with your affected ear facing down. Oil and wax will flow out faster if you pull back the ear a little.

If there is no relief, contact an otolaryngologist. It will quickly and painlessly relieve you of the traffic jam using warm water or furatsilin solution.

You cannot wash out wax at home with a syringe. If the eardrum is damaged, rinsing may cause hearing loss. Before the procedure, the doctor must make sure that the eardrum is intact.

What not to do to remove water from ears

Drying your ears with a hair dryer can cause burns to the delicate skin of the ear.
Remove the cork with a cotton swab. This procedure may result in injury to the eardrum. Cotton swab may damage skin. If bacteria gets into the abrasion, it will lead to inflammation of the outer ear.
Use earplugs for children. They interfere with blood circulation and damage the skin lining the ear canal.
Instill hot alcohol. In this way, some try to relieve ear pain. However similar treatment may cause severe burns.

Prevention measures

Use special earplugs for swimming.
Wear a rubber cap in the pool.
Before swimming, put mineral oil, lanolin or special drops for swimmers “Ear drops” into your ear.
After water treatments, dry your ears with the corner of a towel.