Keeping your body warm during the winter months is important to boost your health. immune system And it helps in fighting viruses and colds. When a cold or flu affects the upper respiratory tract, it increases the risk of ear infections. A viral or bacterial infection in the middle ear can develop when fluid or swelling blocks the Eustachian tube, leading to an ear infection.

According to Dr. Divya Prabhat, MS (ENT), Jeevak Hospital, Mumbai, ear infections can be caused by too much moisture entering the ear and then providing the right environment in which bacteria can thrive. She recommends drying the area around the ear canal with a cloth every day after showering or bathing.

Dr. Prabhat explains that during winter, our ears produce more wax to protect the inner ear from cold temperatures, which acts as a natural buffer against the cold. However, this increased wax can harden due to the cold, resulting in itching, pressure, and difficulty hearing. The colder the weather, the more pressure and congestion you may experience. The term for the phenomenon in which cold temperatures cause the ear canal to gradually narrow. vasoconstrictionThis restriction causes an accumulation, which reduces the natural flow of wax from the ear. Additionally, the body may make more wax in response to the cold as a defensive measure.

Although it’s important to keep ears warm during winter, Dr. Prabhat warns that daily use of hats, earmuffs and earplugs traps moisture, promoting wax growth. She also points out that regular use of headphones — common in the winter as people spend more time indoors — can push wax deeper into the ear canal, exacerbating the problem. Additionally, indoor conditions created by winter heating systems can result in drying out of the earwax. This stronger, less flexible wax is more likely to cause blockages and irritation.

Dr. Prabhat says that a strong immune system can help prevent ear infections, which may or may not result from colds and upper respiratory illnesses. Along with increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables, fiber and water, and incorporating rest and exercise into your routine, immune-boosting nutrients like vitamin D, C, zinc and probiotics are especially a great addition to a healthy diet. Can happen. During cold and flu season.

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