If you’ve been suffering from ear pain or chronic ear infections and are searching for the underlying reason for your ear pain, it may be due to allergies. The connection between allergies and ear issues is stronger than you might initially think, even though allergies and allergy symptoms are commonly associated with sinus and nasal issues.
What Causes Allergy Symptoms?
When foreign invaders, such as viruses or bacteria, enter the body, the immune system activates in order to fight them off. However, sometimes the immune system mistakes a harmless irritant (like pollen, pet dander or dust) for a threat and reacts to it as such. That is why allergy symptoms resemble cold or flu symptoms: your body behaves as if it were fighting the flu.
How Do Allergies Affect My Ears?
Most of the immune system’s response happens in the nose and throat, where the irritant likely enters the body, but don’t forget how closely connected your ear is to your nose and throat: these three areas create a network and work very closely together. Specifically, your ear is connected directly to the back of your throat by the Eustachian tube. This tube’s primary function is to equalize pressure in your middle ear and to drain fluid from the ear into the throat so it can be removed from the body.
During an allergic reaction, the tissues surrounding the Eustachian tube can become inflamed. This inflammation can block the tube entrance to the throat. If the Eustachian tube is blocked, pressure builds up in the ear, leading to a plugged-ear feeling and a feeling of pressure or pushing out against the inside of your ear. This can be very painful.
Can Allergies Cause Ear Infections?
The other function of the Eustachian tube is to drain fluid from the ear. If this fluid gets dammed up behind the blocked tube exit into the throat, it creates a warm, moist breeding ground for bacteria inside the ear. These are the perfect circumstances for developing an infection.
How Can I Manage Allergy-Related Ear Pain?
To treat the ear pain, treat the allergy. If inflammation is the main cause of your allergy-related ear pain, then over-the-counter antihistamines will help the swelling go down, allowing the Eustachian tube to function properly again.
If ear pain persists or gets worse even after medication, consult an ENT specialist and allergist. They will have valuable insights into allergic reaction prevention and management. They may suggest allergy shots or give tips on making your home allergen-free. Call Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery today to meet with one of our specialists.
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