Swimming is a fantastic way to get some exercise and cool off, particularly in the hot summer months. However, if you’ve ever felt a tickling sensation, pressure, or sloshing in your ears after taking a dip, you may have some water trapped inside. Although water usually drains out of your ears naturally, it can get stuck due to a narrow ear canal or excessive earwax buildup, among other reasons. Water trapped in the ears can lead to swimmer’s ear, a type of ear infection that can cause ear pain, ringing in the ears, sore throat, hearing loss, and loss of balance and coordination.
If you have water in your ears, the above symptoms can be worrying. Fortunately, there are various methods to remove water from your ears to prevent any complications. Dr. Heather Coffman, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, shared the following techniques to help remove water from your ears.
1. Let time and gravity do the trick: Lie down on the side where the water is trapped and rest your head on a towel to absorb the water. Over time, the water should drain out naturally.
2. Try rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide: Rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide can help dry out the ear canal. However, it’s crucial to be cautious when using these substances. If you have a perforated eardrum, do not use alcohol drops as it can cause severe pain. Additionally, high levels of alcohol can be toxic to the ear.
3. Use a hairdryer: Pull down on your ear gently to help straighten the ear canal with one hand and use the hairdryer’s cool setting to dry out your ear with the other hand.
4. Chew, yawn, shake, and tug: When water is trapped, move your mouth and jaw around to help move your TMJ or jaw joint, which is connected to your ear canal. Shake your head to provide additional assistance. You can also gently tug on the outer portion of your ear to straighten out the ear canal and allow water to drain out.
5. Avoid using your finger, cotton swab, or other objects: It may be tempting to poke around inside your ear to remove water, but avoid doing so. This can push obstructions deeper into your ear canal, puncture your eardrum, and scratch away the protective waxy layer inside your ear canal, providing an opening for bacteria to grow.
While removing water from your ears is important, it’s also crucial to take preventive measures to keep water from getting into your ears. Wearing swim plugs or a swim cap can help prevent water from entering your ears. After swimming, make sure to dry your ears thoroughly with a towel.
In conclusion, water trapped in your ears can cause discomfort, hearing loss, and infections. If you have water in your ears, the methods mentioned above can help remove the water safely. Additionally, taking preventative measures such as wearing swim plugs or a swim cap and drying your ears after swimming can reduce your risk of getting water trapped in your ears.
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