Weather changes and their impact on the ear

OTTAWA Weather Medical site - Weather changes affect the health and psychological human beings, as the change in temperature, especially those associated with the winter may have a significant impact on the health of the body, including the ear , which is one of the members of the most vulnerable to the effects of cold harmful to health, especially On people using hearing aids.

What is the effect of cold weather (winter) on the health of the ear?

Cold weather effects on the ear include:

The effect of cold weather on ear infections

In contrast, cold weather does not cause ear infections. These infections are caused by a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract, which is transmitted through the so-called Eustachian tube or the eustachian tube into the middle ear, causing infections in those areas, often caused by bacterial infection. Or viral.

Upper respiratory tract infections, especially throat infections, cause the Eustachian canal to narrow or close down the throat and middle ear and help to clear the middle ear from bacteria and bacteria and keep them free of these germs. This can lead to increased ear pressure and an increased risk of ear infections if large numbers of germs accumulate in the ear.

Although the cold weather does not directly cause ear infections, it can increase the severity of symptoms associated with ear infections. In addition, exposure to the ear to low temperatures reduces blood circulation, which weakens its ability to fight infections. And infectious diseases.

The impact of cold weather on the ear of the surfer

Surfer's ear is the most common cause of hearing loss in cold climates, a condition that results in so-called Exostosis, an abnormal bone growth in the ear canal that results from constant exposure to cold air and water. The bone surrounding the ear canal thickens as an attempt by the body to provide protection against cold air and water.

This bony growth may hinder ear reception of sounds, their ability to produce and dispose of gum, leading to gum accumulation, and with water entering and trapped inside the ear by bone growth increases the risk of ear infections and infections frequently.This also causes bone growth in the ear canal Pain, tinnitus, and hearing loss can also occur.

This condition is most often seen in people who are surfing. The name comes from their constant exposure to cold water, but it can affect anyone who is constantly exposed to extremely cold, humid weather without protection, although this condition can be treated. However, they need surgery to remove bone appendages from the ear canal, which can be avoided by properly covering and protecting the ears in wet and cold climates.

The effect of cold weather on tinnitus

Cold weather affects people with tinnitus. Although the cause is not known, it is thought that the narrowing of blood vessels in the ear may play a role. Cold weather can alter the body's course. Blood to keep the internal organs heat and the general heat of the body, which greatly reduces the circulation of blood to the limbs, ears, and nose, leading to a lack of oxygen in these parts of the body.

Hypoxia in the ear tissue causes tinnitus to occur and increases its severity.Therefore, people with tinnitus are recommended to avoid exposing the ears to as cold a climate as possible, and to maintain their temperature by wearing appropriate clothing.

The effect of cold weather on ear icing

Persistent exposure to low temperatures can lead to frostbite, a condition caused by freezing of the skin and tissues, resulting in pallor and discoloration of the affected area to dark purple or gray, and the appearance of ulceration, with loss of sensation. Or a burning sensation in that area. This condition can cause severe damage to the affected tissues, and in the worst case may require amputation of the affected part.

The effect of cold weather on the hardening of ear wax

Exposure to extremely low temperatures can cause ear wax stiffness, in some cases causing closure in the ear resulting in pain in the ear, feeling of fullness of the affected ear, tinnitus, hearing impairment in the affected ear, dizziness, headache, and an increased risk of infectious diseases .

In people who use hearing aids, the risk of wax stiffness increases in cold climates, as the presence of a foreign object in the ear increases the production of wax in it.

Those who are hardened by ear wax are recommended to follow these tips and guidelines:

• Avoid using traditional ear cleaning tools in hardened ear wax conditions, such as cotton sticks, as this may cause the wax to be inserted further into the ear canal, which can increase the severity of symptoms.
• Use warm olive oil, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, or water and salt by making a warm solution and placing a few drops in the affected ear, lying on the opposite side of the affected ear so that the solution reaches the deepest area of the ear canal, Then carefully wash and clean the ear after 10 minutes.
• Use steam by placing a cloth in hot water, then placing it in a cup, and placing it at the ear so that the steam reaches the hardened ear wax, providing heat that helps dissolve the wax.
• Visit your ear doctor to clean the wax and do what is necessary to get rid of this unpleasant condition.

The impact of cold weather on heart health

Effect of changing atmospheric pressure on the ear

The inner ear is filled with a fluid that is very sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure as the seasons change, especially those occurring in the spring, where atmospheric pressure drops rapidly during this season, resulting in lower atmospheric pressure outside the ears faster than in-ear pressure. , Which leads to a feeling of fullness of the ear, or tinnitus.

Seasonal allergic problems that occur in the spring also increase the severity of the condition, as allergies can cause stenosis, swelling or swelling of the Eustachian duct, making it difficult to balance the inner ear pressure with external atmospheric pressure.

People who suffer from Mounir's disease, a disorder of the inner ear, may suffer greatly from the impact of the atmosphere on the ear during the spring, as these patients suffer from an increase in the production of ear fluids and the occurrence of swelling in the fluid chambers in the ear, which leads to increased pressure On the ear, feeling uncomfortable, develops some annoying symptoms such as tinnitus and dizziness.

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Impact of weather on hearing aids

Low temperatures generally affect all battery-powered electronic devices, as some of these devices may stop working in cases of extreme low temperatures, so people who use hearing aids are always recommended to keep a spare battery in their possession during the winter, and more months Coldness, in addition to the moisture associated with the spring, negatively affects the hearing aids.

People using hearing aids are also recommended to take measures to protect them during periods of hypothermia or high humidity by wiping the battery with a warm, dry cloth at least once a day, and keeping hearing aids in low humidity locations, Or in dehumidifiers if possible.