I've been there with ear problems!
I have had on-going problems with my ears for pretty much my entire life and continue to have the odd ear infection from time to time. However, I've found the following things have helped a lot.
I've had tubes put into my ear drums as a kid and also had to have a typmanoplasty (graft put into my ear drum) as an adult due to damage from recurrent infections!
1) Use a steroid spray such as flixonase (which is available over-the-counter) if you are feeling bunged up.
2) Use olbas oil inhaler or pastels. This is a natural blend of various strong smelling oils which will clear your noise out if 'sniffed'. They work fantastically well and do not have any nasty chemicals or side effects. I find this stuff fantastic, particularly if I have a cold. Your local pharmacy will have it in stock.
3) Eliminate any sources of dust from your home: This means regular vacuuming with a good vacuum cleaner, preferably with a HEPA filter. Removal of carpets in favour of hard flooring e.g. wood or tiles is also worth considering. If you can't get rid of your carpets, it can be worth getting them cleaned by a professional who is aware of how to eliminate dust mites and then regularly vacuum with a powerful vacuum that has a HEPA filter from that point onwards. We got rid of all of our carpets and put in wood flooring and it has made an enormous difference to me.
Also make sure that you vacuum areas like behind radiators etc as they can end up storing up dust and distributing it into the air when they're heating.
4) Check your home for any signs of dampness or mould. Many homes have problems which people put up with that can be easily solved by something as simple as fitting a more powerful bathroom fan. Check for any smells of 'must' in areas where there is plumbing e.g. under sinks, in the bathroom, utility room etc.
Black mould which looks like little black stains on surfaces can be really bad as it produces spores that can really cause very nasty symptoms.
Check for any other signs of fungus / mould too. You would be amazed at how much can grow simply because of a hidden leaky pipe under a bath or shower or behind an appliance. Or because of poor ventilation in a steamy area.
5) Ensure that you have adequate ventilation in your home. Older houses in this part of the world often had their fireplaces removed without an adequate alternative form of ventilation being installed. When these houses had fireplaces in use the air in the room was changed up to 7 times per hour! They were extremely well ventilated. However as central heating became the norm these were often removed and simply plastered over. If you're in an old house, I would suggest that you seriously investigate whether the ventilation is adequate. You can have simple ventilators installed in the walls which will allow are to flow in and out, or you can go all out and get a heat-recovery ventilation system installed which will change the air and retain the heat thorough a heat exchanger system.
7) Check that you are not allergic / react to milk. Quite a high % of people produce a lot of mucus in their throats when they drink cows milk. It is so common that many broadcasters and singers avoid milk or milk-based products before going on air / performing. Try eliminating milk from your diet for a week or so and see if you notice a dramatic improvement. You can often eat cheese without any impact and there are plenty of other ways of ensuring a good supply of calcium in your diet.
Remember, liquid milk only became a big part of peoples' diets in the 1900s when pasturised bottled milk deliveries became possible and when people started to have domestic refridgerators in their homes. Before that, milk wasn't consumed in anything like the quantities it is today in Europe or the US/Canada.
8) if you have access to a steam room in your local gym/spa try using it once a week or so. Steam can really help clear out your sinuses and nose. Failing that, have a relaxing long hot shower now and again.
9) And this is a serious one - if you are blowing your nose when you have a cold etc make sure that you only close one nostril and blow. Do not blow both sides at the same time and do not blow excessively hard. You can force infected mucus up your eustachian tubes. This can cause a localised infection that will close the tube and create the conditions for a middle ear infection. Or, the bacteria from your throat can even enter your middle ear. So, basically: blow gently!!
If you're flying, consider taking some of those chewable olbas oil pastels with you to keep your nasal passageways clear while on the flight. Try yawning and swallowing rather than poping your ears by blowing.
Anyway - those are my practical tips for dealing with stuffed up ears!
I've found that by controlling some of those factors I've made what was a serious medical problem into a manageable practical one.
I have had on-going problems with my ears for pretty much my entire life and continue to have the odd ear infection from time to time. However, I've found the following things have helped a lot.
I've had tubes put into my ear drums as a kid and also had to have a typmanoplasty (graft put into my ear drum) as an adult due to damage from recurrent infections!
1) Use a steroid spray such as flixonase (which is available over-the-counter) if you are feeling bunged up.
2) Use olbas oil inhaler or pastels. This is a natural blend of various strong smelling oils which will clear your noise out if 'sniffed'. They work fantastically well and do not have any nasty chemicals or side effects. I find this stuff fantastic, particularly if I have a cold. Your local pharmacy will have it in stock.
3) Eliminate any sources of dust from your home: This means regular vacuuming with a good vacuum cleaner, preferably with a HEPA filter. Removal of carpets in favour of hard flooring e.g. wood or tiles is also worth considering. If you can't get rid of your carpets, it can be worth getting them cleaned by a professional who is aware of how to eliminate dust mites and then regularly vacuum with a powerful vacuum that has a HEPA filter from that point onwards. We got rid of all of our carpets and put in wood flooring and it has made an enormous difference to me.
Also make sure that you vacuum areas like behind radiators etc as they can end up storing up dust and distributing it into the air when they're heating.
4) Check your home for any signs of dampness or mould. Many homes have problems which people put up with that can be easily solved by something as simple as fitting a more powerful bathroom fan. Check for any smells of 'must' in areas where there is plumbing e.g. under sinks, in the bathroom, utility room etc.
Black mould which looks like little black stains on surfaces can be really bad as it produces spores that can really cause very nasty symptoms.
Check for any other signs of fungus / mould too. You would be amazed at how much can grow simply because of a hidden leaky pipe under a bath or shower or behind an appliance. Or because of poor ventilation in a steamy area.
5) Ensure that you have adequate ventilation in your home. Older houses in this part of the world often had their fireplaces removed without an adequate alternative form of ventilation being installed. When these houses had fireplaces in use the air in the room was changed up to 7 times per hour! They were extremely well ventilated. However as central heating became the norm these were often removed and simply plastered over. If you're in an old house, I would suggest that you seriously investigate whether the ventilation is adequate. You can have simple ventilators installed in the walls which will allow are to flow in and out, or you can go all out and get a heat-recovery ventilation system installed which will change the air and retain the heat thorough a heat exchanger system.
7) Check that you are not allergic / react to milk. Quite a high % of people produce a lot of mucus in their throats when they drink cows milk. It is so common that many broadcasters and singers avoid milk or milk-based products before going on air / performing. Try eliminating milk from your diet for a week or so and see if you notice a dramatic improvement. You can often eat cheese without any impact and there are plenty of other ways of ensuring a good supply of calcium in your diet.
Remember, liquid milk only became a big part of peoples' diets in the 1900s when pasturised bottled milk deliveries became possible and when people started to have domestic refridgerators in their homes. Before that, milk wasn't consumed in anything like the quantities it is today in Europe or the US/Canada.
8) if you have access to a steam room in your local gym/spa try using it once a week or so. Steam can really help clear out your sinuses and nose. Failing that, have a relaxing long hot shower now and again.
9) And this is a serious one - if you are blowing your nose when you have a cold etc make sure that you only close one nostril and blow. Do not blow both sides at the same time and do not blow excessively hard. You can force infected mucus up your eustachian tubes. This can cause a localised infection that will close the tube and create the conditions for a middle ear infection. Or, the bacteria from your throat can even enter your middle ear. So, basically: blow gently!!
If you're flying, consider taking some of those chewable olbas oil pastels with you to keep your nasal passageways clear while on the flight. Try yawning and swallowing rather than poping your ears by blowing.
Anyway - those are my practical tips for dealing with stuffed up ears!
I've found that by controlling some of those factors I've made what was a serious medical problem into a manageable practical one.
