Can Clogged Ears Cause Dizziness?

If you have gone through any informative articles on the internet, you must have seen that dizziness is one of the most common symptoms of several ear diseases. 

So, did your ears become clogged recently and you have been feeling dizzy as well? If yes, you must be associating the condition of your ear canal with the vertigo you are feeling, right?

Also, are you wondering “Can clogged ears cause dizziness?” or how do they do so? If yes, this article is for you. Let us learn the anatomy and physiology of the ear canal along with tips to prevent dizziness. 

Understanding Clogged Ears and Dizziness

Starting from the basics, let us talk about dizziness and clogged ears. 

Clogged Ears 

A clogged ear is a sensation of something plugging the ear canal. It feels like your ears are blocked and full. Additionally, you experience symptoms like,

• Vertigo or dizziness
• Ringing sounds in the ears called tinnitus
• Reduced or muffled hearing
• Difficulty in maintaining the balance

Clogged ears also have several causes including,

• Excessive build-up of wax in the ears
• Presence of abnormal fluid in the ear canal
• Ear and sinus infections
• Changes in external pressure due to high altitude 
• And ear tumors like cholesteatoma

Dizziness

Dizziness is a sensation of losing balance, the earth spinning under your feet, and fainting spells. While dizziness has several types including vertigo, presyncope, lightheadedness, and more, the most common type associated with clogged ears is vertigo.

Association of Clogged Ears with Dizziness

In of the causes we mentioned above, the clogging of internal organs of the ears causes dizziness because these organs sense signals from the brain and maintain balance. These organs are given as, 

• Vestibular system
• Eustachian tube

The Vestibular System and Dizziness

The organ known to play a role in maintaining balance and spatial orientation is the vestibular system. So, let us talk about its effects on dizziness.

Anatomy of Vestibular ystem

The vestibular system is a complex system made of 5 structures including,

• 3 semicircular canals named as superior, lateral, and posterior 
• Utricle
• Saccule 

In addition to these structures, there are neural pathways in the vestibular system.

Role of Vestibular System

Function of Semicircular Canals

Lying on the front and extending in three different directions, semicircular canals contain fluid that moves with a change in position. Furthermore, the fluid contains small crystal-like cells that receive and transmit signals when their position is changed due to the position of the person.

The Function of Saccule and Utricle 

The saccule and utricle are two small structures lying behind the semi-circular canals. While semicircular canals determine the movements in an up-down, side-to-side, and angular direction, saccule and utricle are associated with vertical and horizontal movement. 

Association of Vestibular System with Dizziness 

Vestibular system is the coordination organ of the body. It receives signals from vision, and movement of muscles in the body and transmits those signals to the brain.

The brain takes action to maintain balance and change position. When there is any disturbance in the normal functioning of the vestibular system, you feel a loss of balance and dizziness.

One of the major causes of disturbance in the reception and transmission of signals by the vestibular system is clogged ears.

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Dizziness

The eustachian tube is another structure present in the ear that can cause vertigo.

Anatomy of Eustachian Tube

The eustachian tube, as the name implies, is an elongated structure that connects the middle ear with the nose and sinuses. These tubes also contain fluid in them.

Role of Eustachian Tube

The presence of fluid in eustachian tubes along with its related organs helps in draining the fluid from the middle ear. In addition, it maintains pressure in the ears and this pressure plays a role in maintaining balance. 

Association of Eustachian Tube with Dizziness

Dysfunction of the eustachian tube occurs as a result of clogging of the ears because of

• Infections
• Excessive wax
• Allergies 

When the eustachian tube is not working properly, there is an imbalance of pressure in the middle ear. Changes in pressure in the middle ear alter the position of fluid present in semicircular canals and you feel dizziness. 

How to Prevent Clogged Ears and Dizziness

If you have clogged ears, you will likely be feeling dizziness on and off. Therefore, these measures can help you prevent dizziness.

Adequate Cleaning of the Ear

Wax buildup in the ear because of excessive production or reduced cleaning. It is advised to clean your ears once in a while with the help of 

• Otoscope
• Ear drops

However, never use Q-tips in your ears or over-clean them with the methods mentioned above. This is because overcleaning of the ears initiates a feedback mechanism and causes the ears to produce more wax. 

Protection of the Ears

Another cause resulting in clogging of the ears is the enhanced quantity of the wax because of the increased entry of water in the ears. Therefore, try to cover your ears while you are swimming and pat them dry frequently if you sweat a lot. Also, dry your ears quickly after a shower. 

Treating Underlying Conditions

We mentioned several causes of clogged ears above, you can treat those conditions as soon as possible to prevent plugging of the ears. Treatment options include,

• Anti-histamines for allergies 
• Antibiotics for infections 
• Ear drops for wax impaction 
• Decongestants for nasal or sinus congestion 

Checking the Ear Canal

If you check your ear canal regularly, there is a high chance that you can diagnose any condition that can clog the ears. For this, you can use an external ear camera like the Bebird Note 5 Pro ear wax removal Camera. 

Additionally, you can eliminate causes like wax buildup or clogging of the ears. The high-precision tweezers and gentle spoon of the Bebird otoscope help in removing excess wax from the ear.

Lifestyle Changes 

Some lifestyle changes can help in preventing clogging of the ear by maintaining the health of your ears. These changes include, 

• Regular exercise
• Healthy diet
• Maintenance of hydration
• Quitting alcohol and smoking 

Conclusion 

The movement of fluid in the vestibular organs along with the gradient of pressure in the eustachian tubes helps in maintaining balance and recognizing the movements around you. 

Clogged ears interfere with the functions of both of these organs. As a result, you experience dizziness. Prevention of clogged ears prevents vertigo. That is why, we have shared the causes and preventive measures of dizziness caused by clogged ears in this article. 

Photo credit: Wiki.