Winter Warning: The Hidden Dangers Lurking in Your Ears and How to Protect Them

Keeping your body warm during the winter months is important for boosting your immune system and helping it fight off viruses and colds. When a cold or flu affects the upper respiratory tract, it increases the risk of ear infections. A viral or bacterial infection can develop in the middle ear when fluid or inflammation blocks the Eustachian tube, leading to an ear infection.

According to Dr. Divya Prabhat, M.S. (ENT), Jeevak Hospital, Mumbai, ear infections can be caused by too much moisture entering the ear and then providing the right environment in which bacteria can thrive. She advises drying the area around the ear canal with a cloth daily, after bathing or showering.

Dr. Prabhat explains that during winter, our ears produce more wax to protect the inner ear from freezing temperatures, acting as a natural buffer against the cold. However, this increased wax can harden due to the cold, resulting in itching, pressure, and hearing difficulties. The colder the weather, the more pressure and buildup you may experience. The term for the occurrence wherein cold temperature causes the ear canal to gradually narrow is vasoconstriction. A buildup results because of this restriction, which lessens the wax's natural flow out of the ear. Moreover, the body may create more wax in response to the cold as a defensive measure.

Although keeping the ears warm during winter is important, Dr. Prabhat cautions that daily use of hats, earmuffs, and earplugs traps moisture, promoting the development of wax. She also points out that the regular use of headphones—common in winter as people spend more time indoors—can push wax deeper into the ear canal, exacerbating the problem. Additionally, earwax can dry out as a consequence of indoor conditions generated by winter heating systems. Blockages and irritation are more likely with this firmer, less malleable wax.

Dr. Prabhat says that a strong immune system can help prevent ear infections, which may or may not result from colds and upper respiratory illnesses. Along with increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables, fibre, and water, and adding rest and exercise to your daily routine, immune-boosting nutrients like vitamin D, C, zinc, and probiotics can be a great addition to a healthy diet, especially during cold and flu season.

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