Getting water in your ear is super annoying! Although usually caused by swimming, any exposure of your head to water can cause water to become trapped inside your ear canal. Feeling like your ear is full of water can be uncomfortable, and you might not be able to hear anything but muffled noises and speech. But luckily, if you know how to do it, you can get water out of your ear.
This post will show you five tried and tested techniques.
How To Get Water Out Of Your Ear
1. Let Gravity Do Its Job
Tilt your head to one side and let your ear face the ground. This will allow gravity to act and drain the water out of your ear. You can lie on your side for a while if nothing seems to happen, as it may take some time for the water to start trickling out. Put a towel or paper towel under the ear to help catch the water and absorb it.
2. Pull and Shake Your Earlobe
The outer portion of the ear that’s visible to you is called the pinna. Moving or jiggling the pinna can adjust the ear canal shape that leads up to the inner ear. This may be enough to dislodge the water and let it trickle out.
How do you do this? Tug gently on your earlobe and shake it. Also, you can combine this with facing your ear towards to ground to get some gravitational assistance. Alternatively, while you tug on your earlobe, shake your head from side to side to help the water along.
3. Gently Tap Your Head
Again, this works best with your head tilted to the side, with the affected ear facing the ground. Tap the other side of your head (with the unaffected ear) with the base of your palm gently. Combine this with shaking your head from side to side. The tapping can help dislodge the water.
4. Use Suction
Cup the palm of your hand over your ear, allowing it to form a seal around the entrance to the ear canal. Then, pump your palm into and out of your ear to create gentle suction. Tilt your ear towards the ground for best results. This suction should help move the water along.
5. Use Hydrogen Peroxide Drops
Drip a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into your ear. These drops are available in any pharmacy. Hydrogen Peroxide can help dissolve earwax and foreign debris that may be keeping the water inside the ear.
Conclusion
Hopefully, following the steps in this guide should lead you to feel the immediate pop of relief that accompanies water leaving your ear! If you’re still having difficulty removing the water from your ear, though, a qualified physician will be able to help you. Make sure not to let the water stay in your ear for too long, as this can lead to an infection.
Internal Medicine Diagnostic Center is proud to offer the highest quality of primary care in Magnolia and Houston, TX. We perform diagnostics and testing for respiratory diseases, including COPD, and are happy to help you achieve better health and treatment.
To book an appointment or consultation, please give us a call at (281) 252-8600.