Having an ear infection can have some serious consequences for your hearing and your overall health. An untreated ear infection can spread to other parts of the body, like the sinuses, where the infection can continue to infect your tissues and make you very sick. However, many people don't realize that they're developing an ear infection because their ears don't hurt, or at least they don't yet. If you're trying to figure out your symptoms and are wondering if your ears are involved, check this guide.
Popping
One of the first signs of ear involvement in a cold or virus is popping in the ears. This is when pressure gradually builds in your ear, like when you're on an airplane, and then finally releases in a popping sensation.
When you have an ear infection, excess fluid can form in the ears which drives the pressure up. Air has to move out of the way for the fluid to fill the cavity, so you get this fullness sensation followed by popping as the air escapes.
Pressure Under Cheekbones
Pain from ear infections often aren't limited to the ears or may never reach the ears at all. Instead, you may feel pain under your cheekbones.
Do this quick test: lightly tap your fingertips across your cheekbones on each side of your face. If they're painful or tender, that means that there's inflammation going on in the part of the sinuses that allows fluid to pass out of your ears, the eustachian tube.
This kind of discomfort may also indicate a sinus infection, as the two often go hand-in-hand. You can temporarily soothe your symptoms by using a warm compress on your cheekbones, but you should consult with a doctor as soon as possible to prevent an infection from getting worse.
Dizziness
Finally, ear infections often mess with the inner ear, which is responsible for your sense of balance in normal health. When this area becomes inflamed or the fluid becomes infected, it can leave you feeling dizzy. Alternatively, you may experience something called vertigo, where it feels and looks as though the entire room is moving around you.
This kind of dizziness can only be treated by overcoming your ear infection. Until then, you may continue to have periods of dizziness. In some people, prolonged dizziness also causes drowsiness and a difficulty staying awake, so consider having a friend drive you to the doctor's office.
Getting help for this kind of condition is essential to recover quickly and to prevent your condition from getting worse. Since general doctors are often booked up well in advance, head to an urgent care facility instead. They're pros at this kind of thing and can both examine you and provide you with antibiotics to help beat your ear infection.
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