Urgent warning to not remove earwax yourself - and when you should see a GP
While earwax isn't uncommon, hearing experts have warned there are signs to look out for that could mean it is something serious.
It comes as the NHS is no longer offering earwax removal services. It is not encouraged to try and remove ear wax yourself as it can cause further damage to your ears.
However, ear wax buildup can lead to earache or itching, tinnitus and hearing loss. Earwax removal services are sought after by older people, hearing aid users and people with a learning disability. The buildup is also more likely in people over the age of 55, who have eczema, a lot of ear hair and who use cotton swabs in their ears.
Dr Veronika Matutyte, a geriatric doctor based in Lithuania, tells Sun Health : “While earwax is often seen as a trivial matter, it holds much more significance than we generally acknowledge. Earwax, often dismissed as a mere byproduct of our body's natural processes, can serve as a critical indicator of our overall health.
“It's a window into our body's complex workings and can be a crucial indicator of hidden health issues. I always tell my patients to pay attention to their bodies, even to the smallest signs like changes in earwax.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
“It's not about inducing paranoia but promoting awareness and proactive health management. Remember, our body has its way of signalling distress; sometimes, it's through something as simple as earwax.” Dr Matutyte has outlined three conditions that your "blocked ears" could really mean when you should see your doctor.
Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the patients to feel extremely tired. They can develop rashes and itchy skin, joint and muscle pain. Furthermore, it can lead to other symptoms such as weight loss, hair loss, mouth ulcers and swollen glands.
It can also cause an unusual amount of earwax. Dr Matutyte says when this happens it can be a signal from the body pointing to an underlying infection. Patients with lupus might notice changes in their earwax, including the consistency, amount, or colour.
Swimmer's ear
Swimmer's ear, also known as otitis externa, is when the ear canal becomes swollen and red - and it is often painful. If it goes untreated it can lead to an ear infection that would require antibiotics.
One major sign of a swimmer's ear is excessive earwax, or oozing from the ear canal. If you notice these symptoms, especially after swimming, it's best to see a doctor.
Bony growths
If someone develops a swimmer's ear and has excessive earwax, they may be diagnosed with osteomas or exostoses. These are bony growths that can go unnoticed until they cause hearing issues or wax impaction, Dr Matutyte explains.
For doctors to differentiate between the conditions, a detailed examination, including imaging may be involved. Furthermore, otosclerosis is a problem with the bones inside the ear and it can lead to hearing loss. It happens when the tiny bone, called the stapes, fuses with other parts of the ear.
What can you do about earwax buildup?
We all have earwax, but it doesn't always need to be removed. However, using cotton buds is the last thing you should do because it can damage the ear canal. It could potentially be the eardrum, which could lead to hearing loss.
On the other hand, if there is earwax buildup it can cause hearing loss, earache, tinnitus or vertigo. If your ears are blocked, you are advised to to a pharmacist who can help with treatments. However, if the buildup has not cleared up in about five days or you've lost your hearing, you need to go to your GP.
Some GPs can flush out the wax with water or suck it out. The NHS says: “Not all GP surgeries remove earwax buildup. You might have to pay to have them done privately.”
Greggs, Costa & Pret coffees have 'huge differences in caffeine', says report
How to remove earwax at home
The NHS advise one method to try and remove earwax from your ears at home.
- Lie on your side with the affected ear facing up.
- Put 2 to 3 drops of olive or almond oil in your ear – do not use almond oil if you're allergic to almonds.
- Continue to lie on your side for 5 to 10 minutes after putting in the oil.
- Repeat 3 to 4 times a day, for 3 to 5 days.
It may take about two weeks for lumps of earwax to fall out of your ear.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
