Menu
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result

Home > Ear, Nose & Throat > Ear > 9 Health Problems Your Ears Can Indicate

9 Health Problems Your Ears Can Indicate

September 27, 2022 - Updated on September 28, 2022
7 min read
By Shiza Khan, M.Sc. – Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics | Dietitian/Nutritionist

In this article:

  • The Connection Between the Ear and Other Body Parts
  • Things Ears Reveal About Your Health
  • Most-Asked Questions About Ear Infections
  • Final Word

If you ask anyone from a child to an adult about their ears, they’ll tell you that ears are the hearing organs, which is correct, but that information is vastly incomplete. The ears do a lot more than hear.

things your ears can tell about your health

The ear is divided into three sections:

  • External ear
  • Middle ear
  • Inner ear

It is your external and middle ears that form a sound transport canal system that transmits sound to the inner ear to contain. Thus, the ears are known as the organ of hearing.

But what you might not know is the ears are also the body’s organ of balance. (1) So, the next time you walk without tripping, be thankful for your ears!

Advertisements

The Connection Between the Ear and Other Body Parts

The ear is a very small structure, but you would be surprised to know that it has 5 cranial nerves that connect it to different body regions. (2)(3) This means that any condition in these areas will also show some sign in your ears.

These nerves are:

  • The trigeminal or the V cranial nerve
  • The facial or the VII cranial nerve
  • The vestibulocochlear or VIII cranial nerve
  • The glossopharyngeal or IX cranial nerve
  • The vagus or X cranial nerve

Any pathological issue in various bodily regions can, therefore, also lead to ear problems. In fact, most of the things related to ears – from physical examination to ear wax analyses – can give hints about your health status.

Just a quick glance at your ears by an expert can help them identify some health conditions you may suffer from. So, if your ears hurt, itch, or ring, don’t take it lightly!

Things Ears Reveal About Your Health

Here are some things your ears can tell you:

1. You may be diabetic

if you experience hearing loss it could be indicative of diabetes

Diabetes may lead to neuropathy of the auditory nerve. This means that diabetics may experience hearing loss. They are twice more prone to hearing loss than nondiabetics. (4) Not only this, even if you’re only prediabetic, you may be 30% more susceptible to hearing loss.

Advertisements

Moreover, people with high blood sugar levels have more alkaline ear wax, increasing their risk of outer ear infections. (5)

2. You may be at risk of heart diseases

A study published in The American Journal of Cardiology suggested that people who have a diagonal crease by their earlobe are more prone to cardiovascular conditions than those with wrinkle-free, smooth earlobes. (6)

3. You may be battling depression and anxiety

You may have heard people complain about a ringing sound in the ear, known as tinnitus. This has been seen to be a symptom of over 200+ issues, from mental health disorders to heart or brain diseases.

In most cases, the ringing sound may point toward anxiety and depression. When you experience emotional stress, you may get dizzy and experience tinnitus. (7) One study found that a large number of people with anxiety disorder experienced tinnitus.

Although very rare, a continuous ringing in the ears may indicate a developing brain tumor.

4. You suffer from allergies

ear discomfort can be indicative of allergies

Allergies are most commonly associated with itching in the eyes, tearing up, and a runny nose, but allergic reactions also have a significant effect on your ears. It may cause: (8)

Advertisements
  • Itching in the ears
  • Ears feeling clogged up
  • Swelling of the ears
  • Discomfort in the ears
  • Pain in the ears

5. You may need to see a dentist

Experiencing immense pain in your ear does not always relate to an ear issue, but it can be due to dental or oral problems. (9)

From a young age, you may have noticed that toothache is always accompanied by an earache. This is mainly due to problems in the temporomandibular joint, which is closest to your ears.

6. You may need an oncology exam to be on the safe side

People who suffer from cancer and have tumors in the face or neck regions may experience continuous earache and discomfort. This is because these areas are connected to the ears via the cranial nerves, causing ear symptoms.

It is for the same reason that these patients may suffer from damage to the hearing nerve during chemotherapy. (10)(11)

7. You may have eczema or fungal infections

reddening of ears can be indicative of eczema or fungal infections

People who have eczema experience frequent reddening of the ears, accompanied by itching. They may also have white discharge coming out of the ears.

Scratching the itch can cause the infection to intensify or spread. (12)

Advertisements

8. You may be having a stroke

Having numbness in the ear is a possible indicator of stroke. In such a case, look for accompanying symptoms such as: (13)

  • Difficulty speaking
  • Weakness in the limbs
  • Facial drooping
  • Vertigo

Numbness accompanied by some tingling in your fingers can be due to peripheral neuropathy, which is a common condition for diabetics.

9. You may have an injury

Sudden hearing loss, especially if it occurs in only one ear, may be the result of trauma. However, it can also be due to an infection or fluid buildup. (14)

Advertisements

Most-Asked Questions About Ear Infections

What is a risk factor for ear infections in infants?

risk factors for ear infections in infants

Infants who are not breastfed or who wean from breast milk very early may experience an increased risk of ear infection. (15)

Are ear infections highly contagious?

As discussed above, ear infections are mainly due to infections starting from other body parts that settle in the ear. This makes them not so contagious.

Untreated ear infections can lead to what complications?

If left untreated, ear infections have the potential to cause serious complications including: (16)

  • Nearby bone inflammation
  • Hearing loss
  • Scarring of the eardrum
  • Meningitis
  • Speech problems
  • Face paralysis

Final Word

Your body does its very best to make sure you know what’s going on with it by dropping signs and hints. You should carefully listen and observe such changes or complaints and go for further evaluation if you think you need it.

The ears are a very helpful organ when it comes to checking for possible health risks.

For instance, earwax consistency can let you know a lot about your body’s health status. It can give you information about potential chronic disorders or the onset of infections. Do not take such signs lightly, especially if they persist for a very long time.

References
  1. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. How does our sense of balance work? 2010 Aug 19 [Updated 2017 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279394/
  2. Sánchez López de Nava A, Lasrado S. Physiology, Ear. [Updated 2021 Aug 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK540992/.
  3. Coulter J, Kwon E. Otalgia. [Updated 2021 Aug 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549830/.
  4. Kelly D. Say what? the weird reason you can’t hear. Prevention. http://www.prevention.com/health/diabetes/diabetes-may-cause-hearing-loss. Published April 6, 2022.
  5. Wiegand S, Berner R, Schneider A, Lundershausen E, Dietz A. Otitis externa. Deutsches Arzteblatt international. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6522672/. Published March 29, 2019.
  6. Shmilovich H; Cheng VY; Rajani R; Dey D; Tamarappoo BK; Nakazato R; Smith TW; Otaki Y; Nakanishi R; Gransar H; Paz W; Pimentel RT; Hayes SW; Friedman JD; Thomson LE; Berman DS; Relation of diagonal ear lobe crease to the presence, extent, and severity of coronary artery disease determined by coronary computed tomography angiography. The American journal of cardiology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22335855/.
  7. Hou SJ; Yang AC; Tsai SJ; Shen CC; Lan TH; Tinnitus among patients with anxiety disorder: A nationwide longitudinal study. Frontiers in psychiatry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32670119/.
  8. Byeon H. The association between allergic rhinitis and otitis media: A national representative sample of in South Korean children. Scientific reports. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6367416/. Published February 7, 2019.
  9. NA; EJSRTSR. Ear pain: Diagnosing common and uncommon causes. American family physician. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29365233/.
  10. D; JABPKM. Effects of chemoradiation on hearing in patients with head and neck malignancies: Experience at a tertiary referral care hospital. Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery: official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27833872/.
  11. Scarbrough TJ; Day TA; Williams TE; Hardin JH; Aguero EG; Thomas CR; Referred Otalgia in head and neck cancer: A unifying schema. American journal of clinical oncology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14528091/.
  12. Siegfried EC, Hebert AA. Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis: Mimics, overlaps, and complications. Journal of clinical medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4470205/. Published May 6, 2015.
  13. H Buck B, Akhtar N, Alrohimi A, Khan K, Shuaib A. Stroke mimics: Incidence, aetiology, clinical features and treatment. Annals of medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7939567/. Published December 2021.
  14. Maillot O, Attyé A, Boyer E, et al. Post traumatic deafness: A pictorial review of CT and MRI findings. Insights into imaging. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4877355/. Published June 2016.
  15. Li R, Dee D, Li CM, Hoffman HJ, Grummer-Strawn LM. Breastfeeding and risk of infections at 6 years. Pediatrics. 2014 Sep;134 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S13-20. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-0646D. PMID: 25183750; PMCID: PMC4258846.
  16. Mukara KB, Lilford RJ, Tucci DL, Waiswa P. Prevalence of middle ear infections and associated risk factors in children under 5 years in Gasabo District of Kigali City, Rwanda. International journal of pediatrics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5733628/. Published 2017.
  • Was this article helpful?
  • YES, THANKS!NOT REALLY
Spread the Love❤️
Advertisements
Advertisements
Advertisements

Newsletter

Get our BEST updates delivered to your inbox:



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Categories

  • Nutrition
  • Wellness
  • Oral Care
  • Eye Care
  • Heart Health
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Women’s Health
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Respiratory Health

Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
eMediHealth

This site provides content for informational purposes only. The information provided is not intended for use as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In case of a medical concern or emergency, please consult your healthcare provider.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.

Our Network: Little Extra

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Nutrition
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Yoga & Meditation
  • Women’s Health
  • Heart Health
  • Allergy & Immunology
  • Bones & Joints
  • Child Health
  • Digestive
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Eye Care
  • Glands & Hormones
  • Health News
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mental Health
  • Nervous System
  • Oral Care
  • Pain Management
  • Respiratory Health
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Urological Health

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.