A report by The American Lung Association states that the typical adult gets as many as four colds a year. Although colds are usually minor viral infections, that’s still a lot. It doesn’t make a difference what part of the body the virus attacks, if it results in congestion, it can cause an ear infection.
There are some cold symptoms you don’t want to ignore even though colds are normally considered harmless. Researchers have finally affirmed the suspected link between ear infections and the common cold. This is an important discovery, because ear infections are a major contributing variable in the troubling rise in antibiotic resistance.
Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Considering that your sinuses and ears are connected, it’s not unusual to feel stuffed up in your ears when you have a cold. Usually, this feeling comes and goes, particularly if you’re taking a decongestant and your head is draining fluids. But in only a few hours congestion can turn into an ear infection. This is the reason that if you’re experiencing pain or discharge in your ears you should seek professional help.
Pain is a hint that your cold is getting worse and can be an indication of inflammation or infection. If you take care of it early enough, you can get a prescription for antibiotics and avoid permanent injury. It can result in eardrum scaring and could harm the cilia if dismissed.
Is this very serious? A cold will usually only cause temporary issues with your hearing. Damage to your eardrum or cilia, however, can lead to permanent hearing loss…which can lead to other health problems.
Your Overall Health Can be Impacted by Loss of Hearing
Loss of cognitive ability, depression, an increase in accidents, and other health problems are associated with hearing loss. An increase in healthcare costs has been connected to hearing loss by researchers recently. As a matter of fact, in only a decade, untreated hearing loss can increase your healthcare costs by 46%.
Hearing loss can also increase your chance of needing to be hospitalized by 50%….and also increase the likelihood of needing to be readmitted.
Even minor injury can add up. Johns Hopkins discovered that just having mild hearing loss can double your chances of getting dementia. Consider the fact that each time you get an ear infection it can lead to scarring that leads to significant hearing loss over time.
Have You Had Ear Pain For Several Days?
Have you been suffered from ear pain for days and ignored it? It’s a common mistake, but get treatment immediately. There’s a reason why the majority of health insurance companies consider ear pain or indications of an ear infection an emergency. If ear pain has occurred during a cold or after a cold get a hearing exam. If you schedule a hearing exam you can find out if:
- your inner ear is impacted
- You have an ear infection right now
- there is injury to the eardrum that should be dealt with
A professional evaluation can also ensure that there are no obstructions in the ear that could cause discomfort or temporary hearing loss.
It’s a sure sign that you should see a professional if you have sustained loss of hearing or pain in your ear. Schedule an appointment today.