As we prepare for pumpkin season, also known as fall, we should also be preparing for the dreaded rise in ear infections that come with colder weather. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, ear infections are most common during the fall and winter months. Individuals who suffer from seasonal allergies are more prone to get them as a result due to their reactivity to high amounts of pollen during those months. Additionally, exposure to smoke and high levels of air pollution also contribute to the rise of ear infections during this time. Today, we will take a deeper look into what an ear infection is and how to reduce the likelihood of getting one, along with some at-home remedies.
Understanding Ear Infections
Ear Infections are usually caused by bacteria or viruses and affect the air-filled space behind the eardrum. While most individuals who get an infection will clear it on their own, some may require antibiotics to remove it entirely as lack of intervention can cause further suffering and other potential problems like hearing loss. In addition to the mentioned factors in the introduction, using cotton swabs or constantly picking at your ears can also cause ear infections, especially if you’re using dirty cotton swabs or un-washed hands. Swimmers are also more susceptible to ear infections as they are constantly in the water, where their ears are exposed to water potentially entering the ear canal.
Symptoms to look out for in adults are ear pain, fluid coming out of the ear, and trouble hearing. Symptoms in children are ear pain, headache, loss of balance, fluid coming out of the ear, trouble hearing or responding to sounds, fevers, loss of appetite, and fussiness.
How to Treat Them
Vitamin supplements like Zinc, Turmeric, Ginger, Green tea, Vitamin D3/K2, Probiotics, Vitamin C, Omega 3, and Elderberry Syrup can be used to help treat infections for their anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, increasing your fruit, vegetable, and water intake can also help alleviate and shorten symptoms. Clear bone broth is also helpful. Mullein Garlic Ear Drops can be used as a pain reliever in place of ibuprofen.
Another method for relieving an ear infection is the onion method. Simply cut an onion into a half or quarter, heat it up to release some of the juices, place it in a sock or gauze, and hold it on the affected ear and use a headband to hold it in place for a few hours or overnight. Some suggest extracting the juice from the onion (by squeezing it) and placing a few drops into the ear. While some may have found relief using this method, we at Renew’d advise against doing this, as it can worsen symptoms, thus worsening the infection in the process.
If none of these natural remedies work or pain worsens, please seek medical attention.
How To Reduce The Likelihood Of Getting One
There are some ways you can prevent ear infections with primarily proactive measures. Some include staying away from dairy products when feeling congested or stuffed up, drinking more hot liquids like all-natural teas and bone broths. Additionally, you want to avoid constant exposure to water in the ears. Using earplugs when swimming. Avoid smoking or being around second-hand smoke as much as possible, and wash your hands often.
In young children, specifically, babies, avoid bottle feeding your baby when they are lying down. “Milk may pool in their throat and enter the Eustachian tubes, creating a medium for bacterial growth.”- Scripps.org. If breastfeeding is an option, it is pretty optimal for preventing ear infections, as breast milk contains antibodies that can help protect your baby from a number of illnesses, one of them being ear infections. Additionally, consider weaning your child off their pacifier as well.
DISCLAIMER: While Renew’d takes every measure to search and source the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, this is not a substitution for medical advisement, advice or intervention. If you or your child’s symptoms worsen or are accompanied with more severe symptoms like a fever or unbearable pain, please seek medical attention immediately.
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