India’ s winter comes along with a beautiful shift in the weather. The mornings in Delhi and Chandigarh are crisp, while the nights in Mumbai and Bangalore are a little colder. We love to bring out our warm sweaters and have a hot cup of chai, but the dip in temperature, along with seasonal allergies and changing circumstances between indoors and outside, can make our ears more likely to get infections.
Ear infections, medically known as otitis media, become more common in the colder months. For many people they cause short-lived pain, a feeling of fullness, and a temporary drop in hearing. Many people experience brief pain, but ignoring symptoms can exacerbate the infection and lead to consequences, such as prolonged or even permanent hearing loss. If you feel any discomfort, discharge, or hearing loss, consult a skilled audiologist or doctor right away to avoid long-term complications.
At SFL Hearing Solutions, we believe prevention is always better than cure. To help you enjoy the winter months without ear trouble, our senior audiologist in India has compiled seven practical, easy-to-follow tips designed to keep your ears healthy and lower the risk of infections. Read on to learn simple habits and precautions you can start today for long-term ear care.
How to Understand the Risk of Winter in India
When bacteria or viruses become stuck in the middle ear space, it can lead to infections. This is usually because the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, is obstructed.
In India, the winter season raises this risk for a few important reasons:
- Increased Air Pollution (Especially in the Northern part of India): During the winter, cities like Delhi and the areas around it frequently have more air pollution (smog), which makes the nose and throat swell. This swelling can easily stop the Eustachian tube (the tube that connects the middle ear to the upper throat) from working.
- The “Cold and Flu” Season: Winter is the best period for upper respiratory illnesses caused by viruses and bacteria, which are the most common cause of ear infections. Sharing a packed bus or working in close quarters makes you more likely to get sick.
- Dry Indoor Air: Heaters and blowers are popular in North India, and they can dry out the nasal passages and throat, which makes them more likely to get irritated and inflamed.
If you are already experiencing a noticeable change in your ability to hear, or frequently feel pressure or pain, it’s a good time to search online or visit a hearing aid centre near me for a complete check-up.
7 Tips from Audiologists to Keep Your Ears Healthy in the Winter
The experts at SFL Hearing Solutions suggest these practical, easy-to-understand ear care tips:
1. Master the Art of Hand Hygiene (The Traditional Indian Way)
The best approach to keep from getting ear infections is to keep the cold or flu virus from getting into your body in the first place. It all starts with perfect hand hygiene.
- Wash often and well: For at least 20 seconds, wash your hands with soap and water. This is really crucial when you’ve been in busy locations like the office, the market, or a train station.
- Use Hand Sanitiser: When you’re on the go or in congested places like the Mumbai local trains or the Delhi Metro, always have an alcohol-based sanitiser with you.
- Don’t Touch Your Face: Be aware of how often you touch your lips, nose, and eyes, which are typical places for germs to get in. This is a habit that you need to work on!
2. Make sure your nasal passages are clear (the link between the Eustachian tube and the nose)
The Eustachian tube connects the ear and nose, thus it’s very important to maintain your nasal passages free to avoid infections. Congestion is the worst thing that can happen.
- Jal Neti (Saline Rinses): If you tend to get congested, you might want to try a sterile saline nose rinse (or the traditional yogic practice of Jal Neti, if done correctly) to get rid of irritants, allergens, and extra mucus. Talk to your doctor before starting any new routine.
- Drink plenty of water: Drinking a lot of warm water, herbal teas, or traditional Indian kashayas (herbal drinks) will help thin the mucus, which makes it simpler to drain and less likely to plug the Eustachian tube.
- Avoid Aggravating Foods: Dairy products might make some people make more mucus. If you see a connection, attempt to cut back on what you eat when you’re most congested.
3. Take care of your seasonal allergies (don’t ignore the sniffles)
People sometimes think they have a cold when they really have allergies, yet allergies can be a major source of ear difficulties. In India, home dust mites and moulds are prevalent indoor allergies in the winter.
- Know what aggravates your allergy and stay away from it. If you know you are allergic to dust, wear a mask while you clean the house or a scarf over your mouth and nose when you are outside in dirty places.
- Follow the doctor’s advice and take antihistamines. If your symptoms are definitely allergy-related, including having itchy, watery eyes and nose, talk to your doctor about using non-drowsy antihistamines. These drugs can help keep the Eustachian tubes open by making the swelling in your nasal passages go down.
- Regular Cleaning: Make sure to wash your bedding in hot water on a regular basis to get rid of dust mites. This is a simple yet useful technique for taking care of your ears that can help cut down on allergy responses.
4. Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke (the air quality factor)
This suggestion could be the most crucial one for the health of your ears and lungs. Even secondhand tobacco smoke is a strong irritant that makes the lining of the Eustachian tube swell.
- Direct Irritation: Smoke stops the tiny hairs (cilia) that help clear mucus and debris from the throat and middle ear from working. This stagnant fluid is a great place for germs to grow.
- Protect Kids: Secondhand smoking can cause ear infections in kids, so be careful. Don’t smoke inside or around kids.
- Seek Help: If you or someone in your house smokes, get help to stop. A stronger respiratory system means a decreased chance of becoming sick and better hearing.
5. Practice Smart Swimming (Post-Monsoon Dip Precautions)
Even in the Indian winter, people in states like Goa, Kerala, and parts of Maharashtra might still be swimming. Water trapped in the ear canal can lead to ‘swimmer’s ear’ (otitis externa), which, while different from a middle ear infection, is still painful and common.
- Make sure to dry your ears well: After you swim or take a bath, gently tilt your head from side to side to get rid of any extra water. Use a soft cloth to wipe the outside of your ear.
- Use Ear Plugs: If you swim a lot, get some good swimming ear plugs that suit your ears.
- Don’t use cotton swabs: Don’t ever put cotton swabs (buds) in your ear canal. They press wax deeper, which can retain water and dirt, and they can also cause tiny cuts that can lead to illness. This is a very important advice for taking care of your ears that many Indian families forget.
6. Indian food might help boost your immune system.
The best way to protect your body from the viruses and bacteria that cause ear infections is to have a strong immune system. Indian food is naturally full of things that help the immune system.
- Foods high in vitamin C: Eat a lot of citrus fruits like oranges and kinnows, Indian gooseberry (Amla), and green leafy vegetables.
- Ginger and turmeric are two powerful spices that you should use every day. Ginger (Adrak) helps clear up congestion, while turmeric (Haldi) is a well-known anti-inflammatory. A nice cup of Haldi Doodh (Turmeric Milk) before bed is a great winter tradition.
- Enough Sleep: Make sure you receive 7 to 9 hours of good sleep. Your body needs this time to heal and get stronger, which helps it fight off sickness.
7. Make an appointment for your yearly hearing test, especially if you’ve had infections.
Ear infections that happen again and again can occasionally leave behind little damage that makes it harder to hear over time. People may not detect even a little, short-term loss of hearing.
- Check the baseline: Your audiologist in India can get a baseline of your hearing health via an annual hearing test. If you have trouble hearing after a winter illness, they can precisely compare your current hearing to what it usually is.
- Professional Wax Removal: Don’t try to clean your own ears if you think they’re blocked. An audiologist can securely and painlessly get rid of too much earwax, which can cause infections and clogged tubes.
- Early Intervention for Hearing Loss: If an infection has caused a permanent but mild hearing loss, getting a contemporary, discreet hearing aid from a trusted hearing aid facility near you can greatly improve your quality of life. Don’t wait until the situation becomes worse.
Common Questions About Taking Care of Your Ears in the Winter
Question 1. Is it true that using kacha tel (mustard oil) to clean my ears can help keep them from getting infected?
Answer. No way. Mustard oil is used in many traditional Indian medicines, however placing any oil, including mustard oil, in the ear canal might be bad for you. It may hold onto dust, moisture, and other things, which makes it a great place for bacteria and fungus to develop. If an audiologist tells you to, only use ear drops that your doctor has recommended.
Question 2. Every winter, my child gets an ear infection. What should I do?
Answer. Kids are more likely to get sick because their Eustachian tubes are shorter, narrower, and more horizontal. Pay attention to:
- Strict handwashing.
- Keeping them away from passive smoke
- Making sure they receive the flu shot.
- Teach children to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze.
- For a long-term strategy to keep your hearing safe, see an audiologist or ENT specialist in India.
Question 3. How can I tell if my ear ache is caused by an infection or merely a cold?
Answer. Congestion from a cold might make your ears feel full, (as when you’re flying). An active ear infection generally has the following signs:
- Pain that lasts a long time and is quite bad.
- A sense of fullness or pressure that won’t go away.
- Hearing loss that makes sounds sound muffled.
- A fever sometimes.
- A discharge from the ear (always a hint to consult a doctor very once).
- You need to consult a doctor if the pain is acute and doesn’t go away after a day or two.
Question 4. Will wearing a hat or protecting my ears help keep me from becoming sick?
Answer. A hat won’t stop the internal causes of a middle ear infection, including a virus. But when it’s cold or windy outside, wearing a warm cap or muffler over your ears can help lower the chance of otitis externa (inflammation of the outer ear) and save you from getting pain from being outside in the cold. It’s a good and comfortable thing to do, especially for people who ride bikes to work.
Question 5. What do most individuals do wrong when it comes to ear care?
Answer: Using cotton swabs, car keys, hairpins, or any other foreign item to clean the ear canal is the worst error. The ear usually cleans itself. Using these things pushes wax and dirt deeper and might break the eardrum. If you think you have too much wax, go to a hearing aid clinic near you in India and see an audiologist.
The SFL’s Promise to Keep Hearing Healthy All Year
Your ears are fragile, and you need to work hard to protect them all the time, especially during the tough Indian winter. At SFL Hearing Solutions, we want to make sure you can enjoy all the sounds of the season, from the temple bells in the morning to the laughing around the campfire, without having to deal with an ear infection.
Don’t wait if you think you might have an infection or if you’ve noticed a change in how well you can hear. A simple hearing test can rule out any possible issues and make you feel better. The skilled and caring staff at your local hearing aid facility is ready to provide you the greatest advice and treatment.
At SFL Hearing Solutions, we provide complete diagnostic services and the newest digital hearing equipment. This means that even if you have lost your hearing permanently because of prior illnesses, you may still live a full and connected life.
The winter’s cold is meant to be enjoyed. Keep your ears healthy for a lively, infection-free season by following these seven easy, useful suggestions.
Book a free hearing consultation at SFL Hearing Solutions | Call: +91 90 1540 1540
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. For personalised guidance, please see a trained audiologist.