Ear infections can be both annoying and painful, and most people experience them from time to time. Sometimes these infections accompany a cold, but they can also happen suddenly and without any warning. I get them frequently, and especially at winter time so I have gathered up some good advice that I use to try to cure it myself. Usually there’s no need to rush to the doctor, as most times these infections cure themselves. However, if they are left untreated they might give you serious health problems so to consult a physician is always a good thing. Antibiotics are sometimes necessary, and will help you get rid of the ear infection faster.
There are several ways you can help this yourself, both to cure and to prevent an ear infection. The most important thing in my opinion as far as prevention goes is to remove excess water in your ear after showering/having been in water. This is easily done by using a Q-Tip to soak up the water. Be careful though, as inserting it into the ear canal can be harmful, so make sure you don’t put it too far in. I’ve seen warnings against doing this, but I have never suffered any harm from it personally.
Nasal spray can also help prevent ear infection, as it flushes away irritants. These irritants could have caused a buildup in your nose and thus creating a blockage of the Eustachian tube between the ear and the nose. This blockage again creates pressure and or moisture allowing bacteria to grow in your ear and giving ample conditions for an ear infection. So using nasal spray or another nasal wash is a very good mean of prevention.
Chewing gums that contain xylitol is another good tip. When you chew, the jaw movements itself will reduce the risk of getting pressure in your ear, and xylitol is known to prevent certain bacteria to spread inside your ear. Both nasal sprays and gum with xylitol should be used in case of an ear infection too, and I use both every time I get one. The exception to this is only if the infection is so bad that it’s painful to move the jaws.
Oils that you put in your ear by using an eye dropper etc. are absolutely great. I have tried oils from onions and garlic, as well as store bought ones. The home made oils work just as well as the ones from the store or pharmacy, and are a lot cheaper.
Pain medicine is a must for me during an ear infection. I sometimes wake up several times at night from the pain, so when it’s at its worst I always use pain relievers before going to bed. This helps a lot, because not getting enough sleep will just increase your frustration. Having more than one pillow is another good thing; it helps keep your head in an upward position and minimizing the pain.
If the ear infection won’t go away you must obviously contact a doctor to get advice and prescription medicine.
