Is exercising bad on my sinuses?

May 14, 2006 4:53 PM

Why does my ear clog up when I exercise?

After maybe a half hour of exercising, I've noticed that my right ear, and never my left, clogs up, much like it does when making severe changes in altitude. Only exercising I do is jogging and cycling, and it always happens with those two activities. It stays clogged that way for a few hours afterward, and nothing I can try will get it to "pop." My nose also runs, but that is not nearly as noticeable as my ear.

posted by rhapsodie to health & fitness (7 comments total)

I asked this previously. Hopefully someone can come up with an answer and a solution. After my run yesterday, my right ear remained clogged for over four hours.
posted by meerkatty at 4:59 PM on May 14, 2006

Could it be sweat? dripping from your head straight to your ear. If so try wearing a sweat band.
posted by spinko at 5:05 PM on May 14, 2006

It sounds like you have soft earwax deep in your ear canal and when the pressure changes, it sticks to a different part of your interior ear. You can probably replicate this by pressing to the front of your ear above your jawbone.

To clear it up, you could get an ear irrigator. Alternatively, you could get a doctor to do the same for you. Basically all this involves is a big syringe (no needle) with lukewarm water and a bit of hydrogen peroxide flushing out your ear canal. It will hurt a little bit as the pressure builds up high enough, but you'll be suprised what comes out.
posted by beerbajay at 5:17 PM on May 14, 2006

I've done that a couple of times, beerbajay. It's disgusting, but it feels like heaven afterwards. I'd say it feels something like having all the nastyness inside your brain literally flushed out.

Plus, of course, you get your hearing back.
posted by Zero Gravitas at 5:48 PM on May 14, 2006

A novel method for the removal of ear cerumen. Keegan DA, Bannister SL. CMAJ. 2005 Dec 6;173(12):1496-7.
posted by RichardP at 6:00 PM on May 14, 2006

YuckFilter: I use an ear irrigator syringe regularly and still a large-ish chunk of ear wax came out of my ear after a swimming workout, even though I was using earplugs. You may want to give swimming a try, and see if it helps dislodge any stubborn yuck.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:41 PM on May 14, 2006

I'd advise not getting even more novel and trying this as it may be completely countereffective.

I agree that you should look at getting your own irrigator. One of my doctors gave me a large plastic syringe that I use every year or so when one of my ears get clogged. Yes, it does feel great to have that disgusting little lump pop out. Placing a thick towel over your shoulder on the affected side keeps you from getting drenched.
posted by rosemere at 8:36 PM on May 14, 2006