How to unclog stuffy ears

It’s ragweed season – the time of year rife with runny noses, sore throats and stuffy ears. You may be dealing with a river of mucus from postnasal drip, but why do your ears become clogged?

Stuffy ears are caused by sinus inflammation or sinus pressure pushing on the inside of your ear sinuses, which causes a clogged sensation. Most people don't realize their sinuses are all connected – from the nasal passage to the ears and down the back of your throat.

So how do you get rid of stuffy ears? Here are a few tips:

1. Get a humidifier. Humidity and moisture are a great way to treat sinus inflammation or irritation. Try sleeping with a humidifier in your room. To benefit from additional moisture, you can also stand in a nice warm shower.

2. Use a saline mist or nasal spray. Pollen, dust and bacteria cause the sinuses to dry out. A good saline mist or nasal spray can provide much-needed moisture.

If your symptoms don’t subside, consider using an over-the-counter nasal steroid spray like Nasonex or Flonase.

3. Consider a decongestant. When things are getting more severe, you can add a nasal decongestant, but be careful to take it for only two or three days at a time and then take a break from it because it can be habit-forming.

This is also true for pill decongestants like Sudafed or Allegra D.

“These medicines are great short-term therapies for really bad sinus pressure and ear clog symptoms, but after two or three days you should probably think about taking a break from them,” he says.

4. Avoid caffeine, salt, tobacco and alcohol. “These things can affect your circulation and make the congestion feel worse,” Dr. Modi says.

5. Check for wax. A large wax buildup can lead to clogged ears.

It's a good idea to have a regular routine cleaning system. Take a shower, let some of the warm water run into your ears and then dry the ear with a wet wash cloth. Try not to use a Q-tip, because it can actually pack wax in more than pull it out.