Health How to remove mucus from the throat
We are all colds.
With runny nose, cough and, sometimes, even with ears so clogged that we barely hear.
What is the cause of this 'global disaster' we are facing this fall?
What 'cooks' inside our ears so that we suddenly hear (almost) nothing?
Reyes Márquez, doctor of the Otorhinolaryngology Service of the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital (Madrid), explains it to us:
"The nose and ear are connected by the Eustachian tube
. This communication is essential for good ventilation of the middle ear. However , when we get constipated, both the nose and the Eustachian tube usually become
inflamed and cause an obstruction"
.
This blockage, he continues, means that "the ear does not ventilate well and we experience that uncomfortable
sensation of clogging
".
The effect is similar "to when
we go up a mountain pass
. We are not able to balance well the pressures between the ear and the nose and the symptoms are clogging, autophonia (hearing oneself), bubbling in the ear or distortion of the sounds".
In principle, this specialist reassures us, "this symptomatology
is not usually worrisome
and is usually self-limiting, that is, once the nasal inflammation is resolved, the ear symptoms will subside."
How long is it normal for it to last?
"On average, it will last
between 10 and 15 days
, depending on the intensity of the added catarrhal symptoms."
Dr. Márquez warns us that we can feel pain if, while having these symptoms, "we are subjected to
sudden changes in pressure
such as those that occur, for example, when taking off or landing an airplane, since our ability to compensate is diminished by the cold and this deficient rebalancing can cause certain discomfort".
We also have to be very attentive to the evolution of the constipation since "if the nasal mucus travels to the ear it can cause
acute otitis media, which is usually painful
."
For this reason, he recommends, to treat these symptoms, "to keep the nose and Eustachian tube clear with
nasal washes
to avoid, in this way, obstruction."
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