Understanding Plugged Ears from a Cold: Causes & Relief

As if the sniffling, coughing, sneezing and general aches are not enough, now your seasonal cold has gifted you with another unwanted symptom--plugged ears. While plugged ears caused by allergies or colds are certainly annoying, they usually are not anything to be concerned about.

Cause

• Plugged ears are caused by a pressure imbalance between your middle and outer ear. During a cold, the eustachian tube (which connects your middle ear to the back of the nose) can become partially obstructed and cause that muffled sound and mild pain.

Time Frame

• Often, plugged ears are a short-lived problem that will clear up on their own in a few hours or days.

Considerations

• If you are still having active cold symptoms, treatments for your cold may also help relieve your plugged ears. For example, an over-the-counter decongestant may help relieve ear pressure if you are experiencing nasal or sinus congestion.

Prevention/Solution

• You can also try non-medicine solutions such as yawning, chewing gum or taking a deep breath and then gently blowing out while pinching your nostrils and keeping your mouth closed.

Warning

• If your ears feel plugged for more than a few days or if you are experiencing moderate to severe ear pain, see your doctor. You may have an ear infection or other issue that requires treatment.