A study by The American Lung Association states that the average adult gets up to four colds a year. Although colds are normally minor viral infections, that’s a lot. It doesn’t matter what part of the body the virus attacks, if it results in congestion, it can cause an ear infection.
There are some symptoms of a cold you shouldn’t ignore even though colds are generally thought to be harmless. The link between the common cold and ear infections has finally been verified by scientists. This is a significant discovery, because ear infections are a significant contributing variable in the disturbing rise in antibiotic resistance.
You Should Never Ignore These Symptoms
It’s quite ordinary to feel stuffed up in your ears when you’re suffering from a cold because your sinuses and ears are interconnected. If you’re using a decongestant, and your head is draining fluids, this feeling usually comes and goes. But congestion can develop into an ear infection in just a few hours. This is the reason why you should always get professional help if you experience any pain or abnormal discharge in your ear.
Pain is a hint that your cold is moving in the wrong direction and can be an indication of inflammation or infection. If caught early, you can get a prescription for antibiotics and prevent permanent injury. If it’s ignored, it can lead to scarring on the eardrum and possibly damage to the cilia from inflammation.
Is this very serious? Normally, cold related hearing loss is only temporary. However, permanent hearing loss can result if the eardrum or cilia become damaged and that can result in other health issues.
Hearing Loss Can Harm Your General Health
Hearing loss has been associated with other health concerns, from loss of cognitive ability to depression to an increase in accidents. An increase in healthcare expenses has been linked with hearing loss by researchers recently. As a matter of fact, in only 10 years, untreated hearing loss can increase your healthcare costs by 46%.
Your chance of needing hospitalization with untreated hearing loss is increased by 50%….and the likelihood of needing to be readmitted also increases.
It adds up each time your ears take even minor injury. Even mild hearing loss can, Johns Hopkins found, double your risk of getting dementia. Consider the fact that considerable hearing loss can be caused by scarring on the eardrum from repeated ear infections.
Have You Had Ear Pain For Days?
Have you been suffered from ear pain for days and neglected it? It’s a common oversight, but get treatment immediately. There’s a reason why the majority of health insurance companies consider ear pain or indications of an ear infection an emergency. It’s important to get your ear examined if you had any pain over the course of your cold or are still having difficulty hearing after your cold has cleared. If you schedule a hearing exam you can find out if:
- You have an infection now
- there is any impact on your inner ear
- there is damage to the eardrum that needs to be addressed
Pain or temporary loss of hearing can be caused by a blockage in the ear which can also be determined by a professional ear test.
Ear pain or prolonged hearing loss are certain signs that you need to consult a professional. Schedule a hearing test now.