Sleep A Different Way
Honestly, this might be the most unaccepted method just because, well, who wants to change!? The truth is, if your ear is somehow aggravated, putting less pressure on it can be a game changer. If youre a side sleeper, try laying on your back, or switching to the other side. This, plus a few additional pillows for elevation can help drain your ears faster, leading to a little more relief.
What Are Some Home Remedies For Ear Infections
Not a lot of evidence exists to support these treatments, so its always a good idea to consult your doctor before trying any of them.
Not a lot of evidence exists to support these treatments, so its always a good idea to consult your doctor before trying any of them.
Ear infections can be painful. Sometimes they cause a persistent dull pain other times a sharp burning feeling comes and goes. Most of the time, theyre not anything to worry about. Except that youll want the pain to cease.
Here is an overview of traditional approaches to treatment, plus everything you need to know about at-home remedies.
Causes Of Middle Ear Earache
The middle ear is separated from the external ear canal by the eardrum, and this is the location of nerves involved with hearing. It is a relatively closed space and anything that increases pressure in the middle ear will cause pain.
- Middle ear infections are a common cause of otitis media especially in children. These are commonly caused by a virus or bacteria that invades and infects stagnant fluid in the middle ear.
- Serious otitis media describes fluid collection within the middle ear and is usually due to Eustachian tube dysfunction. This is the tube that drains fluid and equalizes pressure between the middle ear and the back of the throat. Increased pressure may cause pain and fullness but usually resolves over time. However, this fluid may also become infected, causing pain and fever.
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How Can I Help Relieve My Child’s Earache Or Ear Infection
Most earaches usually clear up within a few days. Symptoms of ear infections can sometimes last for up to a week, however.
Tips you can try at home include getting your child to rest in an upright position instead of lying down, to help relieve some of the pressure and place a warm flannel against the affected ear to help relieve the pain.
If your child is in pain you can also give them some pain relief medicine to soothe their earache.Nurofen for Children 3 months to 12 years – Strawberrycontains ibuprofen which has anti-inflammatory properties.
In older children, nasal sprays can help to reduce the swelling in the nasal passages which leads to the middle ears. Using a nasal spray will not help the ear infection clear away any faster but if your child also has a stuffy nose, it can help to unblock it for a few hours. However do not give this to your child except under the advice of your GP or pharmacist, and never for more than days in a row. Avoid using any over-the-counter ear drops without first seeing your GP, as they can cause problems if your child’s eardrum has a perforation .
When To See A Doctor About An Earache
Dr. Nguyen-Huynh recommends seeing a doctor if:
- Yoursymptoms remain after twoor three days, even if youve tried over-the-counter or home remedies.
- Yourear is very painful, oryou have other symptoms that bother you.
Other common conditions, such as temporomandibular joint dysfunction , can masquerade as earache infections. TMJ causes ear pain because the ear canal and the jaw joint share a nerve. If you have ear pain along with trouble chewing, talking or yawning, then you should see a dentist or TMJ expert to be sure youre treating the right condition, notes Dr. Nguyen-Huynh.
The good news? Hot and cold compresses and OTC pain relievers can also help relieve TMJ pain until you sort things out.
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Best Method For Soothing An Earache Quickly
Typically, an earache or ear infection is associated with the common cold or flu. These viral upper respiratory infections can lead to fluid buildup in the ear.
To alleviate any pain, doctors often recommend using a warm compress, which can help to loosen congestion and ease any discomfort.
Creating a warm compress is simple. Just soak a washcloth in warm water, wring out excess water, fold it, and place it on the affected ear for 10 to 15 minutes. But be careful, as an overly hot washcloth could cause a burn.
You can also create a warm compress from a heating pad or warmed gel pack. Wrap a towel around your heating pad, set it to a low setting, and place it on top of the sore ear.
To be safe, you can also use a towel with a warmed gel pack.
Garlic May Interact With Some Medications
Garlic supplements should not be taken with medications that are transported by P-gp. This includes:
- Colchicine
- Tacrolimus
- Verapamil
Because of the increased risk of bleeding associated with garlic supplements, talk to your healthcare provider about their use if you take an anticoagulant such as warfarin or if you need surgery.
Garlic supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of saquinavir and other medications, dietary herbs, or supplements.
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any supplements, including garlic.
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How To Get Rid Of An Ear Infection
By Coastal Urgent Care of Gonzales
Earaches can be unbearably painful, but they dont always require antibiotics. In fact, more than 80% of ear infections get better on their own or with home care within 2-3 days. In most cases, using an over-the-counter pain relief medication is how to get rid of an ear infection fast.
Bacteria Causing Food Poisoning
Here are some common symptoms attached when you have bacterial infection related to food poisoning issue.
- Campylobacter jejune is a diarrheal illness that is often accompanied by fever or cramps
- Escherichia coli is another diarrheal illness whose symptoms are fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and nausea.
- Clostridium botulinumis considered as a potentially life-threatening bacterium, which produces powerful neurotoxins.
- Salmonella is often accompanied by fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.
- Listeria monocytogenes can cause fever, muscle aches along with diarrhea. Especially, elder people, pregnant women, and infants who often have weak immune system are more likely to suffer from this issue.
- Last but not list, vibrio is attached with diarrhea. Sometimes, when bacteria exposed to an open wound, they can cause severe skin infection, which will be a big problem if you do not have a proper treatment in time.
Click at Home Remedies For Food Poisoning to get natural remedies for food poisoning.
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How To Prevent Clogged Ears
Apart from artificial ways, there are tried and tested natural ways to prevent ear clogging. For that, you need to make a couple of changes around your home and in your lifestyle habits.
If the natural remedies mentioned above do not work, you need to consult a medical practitioner immediately to suction your ear or remove blockage with an instrument.
Stay happy and healthy!
Diagnosing A Middle Ear Infection
A doctor will generally be able to diagnose a middle ear infection by considering a person’s symptoms and looking for specific signs. Using an otoscope , a doctor will be able to look into the ears, throat and nose for any signs of infection. While the area around the eardrum will most likely be red and swollen, this will normally only be noticeable upon examination with an otoscope. The ear itself will generally not be red or swollen.
In some cases, especially when the condition is predicted to have taken the form of otitis media with effusion, a pneumatic otoscope may be used to confirm a diagnosis. This instrument pumps air into the middle ear and measures the resulting pressure changes. If little response is felt, this indicates the presence of fluid in the ear.
To further confirm a middle ear infection diagnosis, a doctor may order a number of further tests, including:
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Foods With Healing Power: The Benefits Of Garlic
Try this power food
The Cleveland Clinic puts garlic on its list of 36 power foods, and for good reason. Garlic is a rich source of phytochemicals. These plant chemicals are thought to ward off disease and help boost your immune system.
So-called power foods provide loads of nutrients but little calories. That translates into lots of potential benefits for your body and overall health. Eating nutrient-rich foods as part of your regular diet can help lower your risk of many health conditions, including heart disease and certain kinds of cancer.
, garlic has traditionally been used to treat many health conditions, including:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- different types of cancer
Some of these folk uses for garlic have been supported by modern scientific studies, while the jury is still out on others.
NCCIH . Taking garlic supplements may be especially helpful if you have chronically high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Raw garlic and garlic supplements contain the compound allicin. This compound may help relax the smooth muscles in your blood vessels. When those muscles relax, your blood vessels dilate and blood pressure drops.
NCCIH reports that garlic may slow the development of atherosclerosis. This is a condition in which cholesterol-containing plaques build up in your arteries. They harden and narrow, which raises your risk of heart attack.
Pain Relievers For Earaches
If you or your child is experiencing an infection, youll likely want relief from the pain fast.
For quick relief, your doctor may also suggest reaching for an over-the-counter pain reliever, with or without the addition of antibiotics.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen could help, though youll always want to check with your doctor to be sure.
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Check If It’s An Ear Infection
The symptoms of an ear infection usually start quickly and include:
- pain inside the ear
- a high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above
- being sick
- discharge running out of the ear
- a feeling of pressure or fullness inside the ear
- itching and irritation in and around the ear
- scaly skin in and around the ear
Young children and babies with an ear infection may also:
- rub or pull their ear
- not react to some sounds
- be irritable or restless
- be off their food
- keep losing their balance
Most ear infections clear up within 3 days, although sometimes symptoms can last up to a week.
How Do I Use It
While theres no clear evidence about the effectiveness of olive oil on its own for common ear problems, its also not associated with any serious health consequences, so you can still try it to see for yourself.
To apply drops to your ear, use a glass dropper or you can dip a cotton swab in olive oil and allow the excess to drip into your ear. Dont put the cotton swab or any other object in your ear.
You can use room-temperature olive oil, though some people prefer to warm it up in a pan over low heat. Make sure to test the temperature on your skin first. The oil should be just slightly warm, not hot.
Follow these instructions to safely apply olive oil to your ears at home:
Tailor the application to your need, and contact your doctor if you arent seeing the desired results:
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Complications Associated With A Middle Ear Infection
Complications from middle ear infections are extremely uncommon, but can occur, especially in very young children with a not yet fully developed immune system. These complications include:
- Mastoiditis: When the infection spreads into the bones of the ear. Symptoms include fever, pain, tenderness, headache and a creamy discharge from the ear. This condition is treatable, but seeking medical attention early is important.
- Cholesteatoma: A result of tissue build-up from recurrent instances of infection. If left untreated, the condition can cause serious damage. Treatment typically involves surgery.
- Labyrinthitis: A condition that occurs when an infection in the middle ear spreads to the inner ear. Symptoms include dizziness, hearing loss, vertigo and loss of balance. It is treatable.
- Other complications: Other possible complications include facial paralysis, meningitis and brain abscess, but these conditions are extremely rare.
Sleep Without Putting Pressure On The Ear
Some sleep positions will aggravate pain from ear infections, while some can help relieve it. Sleep with the affected ear raised instead of having it faced down toward the pillow. This can help the ear drain better if necessary.
You can also sleep with your head elevated by using extra pillows. This can also help the ears drain faster.
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How To Choose A Product
Its important to choose a high-quality olive oil if youre using it for medicinal purposes. When choosing an olive oil, look for extra virgin olive oil. This type of olive oil isnt chemically processed, .
You can also purchase olive oilbased herbal ear drops. These contain extracts from medicinal plants, such as garlic, that might provide added benefits. You can purchase these drops on .
Watch Out For Symptoms
You always need to be on the lookout for symptoms that might indicate that it is time to take your dog to the vet. For instance, if your dog has been scratching the area in and around his ears more frequently than usual or if the fur around his ears has been shedding a lot, it is probably because he has contracted an ear infection. Also, watch out for any uncanny patterns in his movement, like a tipsy walk or circular movements. Then there are the more obvious indicators like swelling, bleeding and residual buildup inside the outer ear. Do not wait for all these symptoms to manifest themselves. Detecting anyone is reason enough to take your dog to the clinic.
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How To Treat Dog Ear Infection Without Vet Help
First, a word about topical treatments. As youll see later, over-cleaning your dogs ears can lead to ear infections. So its best not to put anything in your dogs ears even if she has an ear infection. If that happens, you know its a sign of deeper issues so getting to the root of the problem is key.
But sometimes ear infections are just too uncomfortable for your dog and you need get her comfortable while you work on the root cause.
How To Treat Bacterial Infection With Baking Soda
As you know, baking soda is used for numerous purposes varied from cooking to taking care of health and beauty. How to treat bacterial infection with baking soda is what we would like to show you next. In accordance with a study on the antibacterial property of sodium bicarbonate , which was published in August, 2006 in the Journal of Food Science, baking soda was proved to have the powerful antibacterial activity. Thanks to the ability to regulate the PH balance of your skin and body, home remedy baking soda is able to treat many infections caused by bacteria such as respiratory infection, bacterial skin infection, and intestinal tract infection. Moreover, when you mix a half teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water, it can help to treat respiratory infections and stomach infection. Another way to use this kitchen staple on how to treat bacterial infection is that you can pour a cup of the ingredient into a tub of lukewarm water. This treatment can be used daily as a rinsing and soaking agent.
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Home Remedies: Suffering From Swimmers Ear
Swimmer’s ear is an infection in the outer ear canal, which runs from your eardrum to the outside of your head. It’s often brought on by water that remains in your ear after swimming, creating a moist environment that aids bacterial growth.
Putting fingers, cotton swabs or other objects in your ears also can lead to swimmer’s ear by damaging the thin layer of skin lining your ear canal.
Swimmer’s ear is also known as otitis externa. The most common cause of this infection is bacteria invading the skin inside your ear canal. Usually you can treat swimmer’s ear with eardrops. Prompt treatment can help prevent complications and more-serious infections.
Outer ear infection Redness of the ear canal, draining fluids and discharge of pus are signs of swimmer’s ear . Untreated, the infection can spread to nearby tissue and bone.