Introduction
If you’ve ever gone diving and felt like your ears are blocked, you are not alone. Whether it's a side effect of cold water or a sign that you’re suffering from an ear infection, we're here to help. Here is everything you need to know about how to get rid of blocked ears after diving!
How to Treat Blocked Ears After Diving
You can treat blocked ears after diving by using a decongestant, a hot compress and avoiding swimming, diving and flying.
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Use decongestants to unblock your ears: If you have an allergy-induced cough that makes it difficult to breathe through your nose, try taking an over-the-counter antihistamine (like Benadryl) or nasal spray containing oxymetazoline (like Afrin). These medications help shrink swollen tissues in the nasal passages which will allow air to flow more freely through them. They may also help open up any clogged Eustachian tubes caused by colds or allergies.
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Use hot compresses: A warm compress applied carefully over both ears can sometimes help relieve pain associated with sinusitis or ear infections by relaxing tense muscles around the face and head area where nerves are located that lead directly into these areas where discomfort occurs when there's inflammation present within them due to infection caused by bacteria present inside our bodies from viral infections like influenza viruses transmitted through inhaling airborne droplets from other people coughing near us without covering their mouths properly when sneezing/coughing out mucus containing viruses into open air space surrounding them so anyone nearby risks becoming infected too if they don't take precautions against being exposed unnecessarily (for example wearing surgical masks).
What Causes Blocked Ears After Diving?
When you dive, the air pressure inside your ear canal is higher than outside. This can cause blockages and pain to occur if your Eustachian tube doesn't open to equalize pressure. The more you dive, the more likely you are to get blocked ears.
When Can You Expect Your Ears to Unblock on Their Own?
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How long it takes for your ears to unblock depends on the depth of the dive. The deeper you go, the longer it will take for them to unblock.
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If you're diving in a cold environment (like Lake Michigan), this process can be slowed down even further by water temperature and air pressure changes.
Why You Shouldn't Try to Unblock Your Ears Yourself
It's important to note that if you try to unblock your ears yourself, you could actually cause more damage than good.
The eardrum is a thin membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. It has tiny holes in it called acoustic tubes or auditory tubes (also known as Eustachian tubes). These tubes allow air pressure on either side of your head to equalize when you go up or down in altitude and are also what allows us to hear sounds clearly when we dive underwater because they help equalize pressure on both sides of our heads so our ears don't pop while diving! However, sometimes these little guys get blocked by wax build-up or swelling after entering cold water temperatures–which is why some divers experience “blockage” after diving (or even just swimming).
How to Recover From a Blocked Ear After Diving
To recover from a blocked ear after diving, you should:
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Rest your ears. Do not swim, shower, or bathe for at least 24 hours.
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Avoid any activities that could increase pressure in the middle ear (such as riding on an airplane).
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Take painkillers if you have them. If the pain is severe enough to require medication, ask your doctor about over-the-counter options or prescription strength painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol). These drugs will help reduce swelling and inflammation around the ear canal while also relieving any aches that accompany blocked ears after diving–but keep in mind that they won't help clear up congestion inside the ear itself since they don't enter into this part of your body!
Takeaway:
If you're experiencing a blocked ear after diving, don't try to unblock it yourself. The best thing to do is get professional help from an ear doctor or a dive instructor who knows how to treat divers with blocked ears.
Recovering from a blocked ear takes time–sometimes as long as two weeks–and there's no way around that fact. If you try pushing through the pain, your body will only make things worse by causing permanent damage that could lead to hearing loss later on down the road.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand how to recover from a blocked ear after diving. We also want to remind you that it's important not to try anything on your own and always speak with a doctor before trying any home remedies.
