Why does my left ear feel blocked upon waking up?
Disease description:
After staying up late to work overtime last night, I woke up this morning with a sudden feeling of significant blockage in my left ear. My hearing also seems to have decreased, although there is no ear pain or other discomfort. I am concerned this might be an ear infection or another serious issue.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lu Cheng
Upon waking up, you may feel a blocked sensation in the left ear. Possible causes include sudden ear blockage, otitis media (middle ear inflammation), earwax blockage, or poor blood circulation due to prolonged work-related stress. The most common cause is cerumen impaction, which occurs when excessive earwax accumulates in the external ear canal, causing a blocked feeling and hearing loss. Sudden ear blockage and sudden hearing loss require particular attention, as they could be caused by blood vessel spasms in the inner ear or viral infections, and timely medical evaluation is essential.
For this condition, it is recommended that the patient first try cleaning the external ear canal. If the blocked sensation is due to cerumen impaction, symptoms may improve after cleaning. Additionally, Xiao Wang should immediately stop using headphones or any devices that could further damage the ear and seek prompt evaluation from an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) for a detailed examination. If sudden ear blockage or sudden hearing loss is suspected, further imaging or blood tests might be necessary.
Moreover, patients should maintain good ear hygiene in daily life and avoid using hard objects to clean the ears, to prevent injury to the external ear canal or eardrum. Adequate sleep and healthy lifestyle habits are also beneficial in preventing ear-related diseases.
