All of us have ear wax and it can get uncomfortable at times, especially when you feel that the insides of your ears are blocked. What are some home remedies or tips that we can use to relieve ear blockages?
Dr Noor Hakim Abdul Shukor, Family Physician, Raffles Medical
Wax in the ears is a common and easily treatable cause of deafness, discomfort, and sometimes noises in your ears (tinnitus).
Most people's ears clear the wax, which probably comes off on our pillows and towels etc., at a rate which does not build up. Some people may, at some stages in their lives produce wax at a faster rate. Other people have either one or both ear canals that is narrow, or that is at an angle which slows the natural passage of the wax. In these people, the wax builds up and eventually blocks the external ear canal.
Treatment
If you think you have ear wax blocking your ears, and in the absence of ear drum perforation or infection, you may take the following steps.
Either buy some wax softening drops from the pharmacy or drop warmed (body temperature) olive oil into the affected ear, two or three times a day, over a few consecutive days. After three or four days, arrange to see your doctor to have the wax syringed out with warm water.
If you experience ear pain, a fever, or are otherwise concerned, you should speak to or see your doctor sooner.
Prevention
• Do not try to clean out your ears by using a cotton bud. This may merely act like a ram rod causing impaction, and could damage the ear drum.
• It may help to wear ear plugs if you work in a particularly dusty environment.
• If you keep getting ears blocked by wax, it may be worth using a couple of drops of olive oil into each ear once or twice a week.