Earwax is produced naturally by the glands in your ear canal. Its main purpose is to protect your ears by stopping any dirt and bacteria from entering. Earwax also prevents infections and keeps the ear canal lubricated. However, for some people a build-up of earwax can cause hearing loss and other complications.
When earwax becomes excessive, it can cause blockages in your ear canal, which could then lead to hearing loss. Blocked ears prevent sound waves from reaching your eardrums causing further issues such as muffled hearing, earache, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and even balancing issues.
There are lots of things which can contribute to earwax buildup, such as using cotton buds. Inserting anything into the ear canal can push wax deeper leading to blockage. Although it cannot be helped, the regular use of hearing aids or earphones can make it difficult for wax to fall out naturally and cause blockages.
If you have blocked ears, the best and safest methods to remove the wax is by either using olive oil, ear drops to soften wax, warm water rinses or seeking professional help from an ear cleaning specialist.
When it comes to things like hearing loss, ear ache and infections, it is best to seek help and advice from a healthcare provider, as they can help you to safely remove the wax and treat any ear health issues. However, most importantly, having good ear hygiene can help prevent blockages and hearing loss ensuring your ears are healthy.
