When it comes to your ears and your health, it’s important to make sure your ears are protected with healthy levels of ear wax to keep your ears free from infection or damage. The outer part of your ear canals contains glands that secrete ear wax, or cerumen. This naturally created wax helps shield your ear from harm. In a healthy ear, your canals create a little bit of wax that then dries up and falls out.
This natural substance acts as a protective coating for the ear canal. Sometimes, excessive buildup results in blockage and may need to be removed, especially if it is impacted. This can leave you experiencing ear pain, dizziness, and even diminished hearing. This is especially true if you wear hearing aids, constantly use earphones or regularly clean your ears with cotton swabs which can push the wax further down the ear canal.
How to tell if your ear wax needs removing? You notice and of the following symptoms:
- A feeling of fullness in the ear
- Dizziness
- Itching
- Irritation
- Loss of hearing
- Pain
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Reflex cough
The cold winter weather can also hurt your ears, especially if you already have problems with your ears. For some people, the cold weather can trigger tinnitus and problems for some hearing aids. If you do have excessive ear wax buildup, Dr. John Abroon may clear your ears with an ear wax removal treatment for children up to adults. He will go over any symptoms to ensure the problem is caused by wax buildup. If so, he can remove the wax using a small instrument or by flushing the ear out with warm water.
If you often have earwax buildup, Dr. Abroon may suggest using safe, over-the-counter drops to soften the wax. Drops may also be recommended if you have diabetes or an immune-compromising condition to protect against potential infection or other damage to your ears.
Your hearing is a vital part of your overall health and can impact your quality of life. Make sure you don’t put anything into your ear canals. If you do find yourself experiencing the signs of ear wax buildup, we encourage you to call the practice of John Abroon, MD at 212-288-0900 to see if you require ear wax removal treatment in New York, New York.