How to Protect your Ears during Winter [3 tips to ensure continued good hearing and general health.]

Are you someone who is often left pondering ‘Why do my ears hurt every winter?’ You may not expect there to be a connection between cold weather and ear problems, it does exist. Our body has a layer of fat that protects it from elements of nature, one of them being cold weather. However, ears do not have that layer, and the nerves in a human air are far more exposed to cold, leaving them vulnerable. It is no surprise that ears are usually the first part of our body to feel cold.

You may face any of the following problems if your ears are exposed to cold weather for extended durations:

• If you spend too much time outdoors in cold weather, your ears might begin to pain. The problem could be compounded further if there is a lot of wind, rain, or snow, as it could irritate your ears.
• Because one is more prone to catching a cold or flu during winter season, there is a possibility that the respiratory tract infection could spread to the ears (one reason why ENT is a specialization within the field of medicine).
• Can cold cause ear ringing? The answer is Yes. Cold weather may trigger tinnitus for certain people (as the body responds to low temperature by adapting its blood circulation to consolidate warmth).
• Prolonged exposure to cold ear may result in ‘Exostosis’ (commonly known as ‘Surfer’s Ear’) which is the increased bone growth in the ear, particularly in the ear canal, which may lead to hearing loss. Corrective procedures do exist for exostosis, but they have a long healing time.

As one of the most prominent hearing aid dealers in Delhi as well as other cities in India, we often come across multiple cases of hearing damage due to cold weather every year. The following are some tips that we recommend following to avoid having to pay a visit to an audiologist near you:

1. Clean your Ears Regularly

While this is a healthy habit that must be followed in general, it is particularly important to pay attention to your ear hygiene in winter. This is because during cold weather, especially if you have to be outdoors where there would be breeze as well, your ears tend to generate excess wax. If you fail to clean your ears properly, this may lead to wax build-up in your ear canals. To avoid this, make sure to use swabs or a soft damp cloth to clean the outer portion of the ear while having a bath every day.

2. Ensure that your Ears stay Dry and Warm

This will help prevent many of the issues mentioned before in this post. You can keep protect your ears from cold air by wearing ear protection gear such as fleece ear warmers, a winter hat, or a knitted headband. Keeping your ears cold will also help you to avoid ‘Swimmer’s Ear’, which is a bacterial infection of the ear canal.

While doing this, make sure to not use cottonwool in the ears, because it may actually result in ear inflammation.

3. Protect against Ear Infections

As mentioned earlier, there is a heightened chance of contracting respiratory tract infections (which could spread to the ear). To avoid ear infections, it is essential to follow a healthy diet and work-out routine to build immunity, keep your household surroundings clean to avoid allergies, and seek prompt medical treatment if you happen to catch a cold. Also, make sure to avoid cold drinks or food, as well as fried and junk foods.

You may practice nasal irrigation (a Yogic practice of ingesting a saline water solution from one nostril and taking it out from the other to cleanse away allergens or pathogens in the nasal tract. It is particularly important to exercise control over bad habits such as smoking and drinking (for general health reasons as well). You should especially be vigilant if you notice issues such as pain in the ear, redness, discharge, ringing sound in the ear, or any exacerbation of existing hearing loss and seek medical intervention if you face any such issues.

By following the above tips, you can be assured of minimal hearing problems in the winter. However, remember that no matter what you do, your ears, like the rest of your sensory organs, are rather sensitive and also may experience problems. If you happen to face any such issues, you may need to avail of the use of hearing aids, and we would be more than happy to assist you in getting your hearing corrected.