Ears clog after strenuous exercise.

[f1erce]

Today I was playing soccer for an hour, and I play forward, so I was doing alot of sprinting/running around, and my problem arised again..

Every time I do some sort of cardiovascular exercise my ears clog and I can barely hear myself. I was wondering if this is normal?

Is there anything I can do to fix this? Sometimes it lasts over an hour after exercising.

[rducote]

I also have this problem. However, I don't know what causes it.

[Saeco Pink]

That's lack of sufficient oxygen in your blood caused by your intense efforts.

It's a sign that you're close to passing out.

You need to slow your roll and get control of your breathing during your workouts.

I suspect you also may not be adequately warmed up before you begin your workouts or that you are underfed prior to your workouts.

When you get that sensation, stop immediately and lower your head so that it is positioned below your waistline. That will cause blood to return to your brain. When the clogging feeling disappears, you have regained sufficient blood flow to your brain.

[God_Speed]

I have that alot when bench pressing, just one of my ears get clogged, and it stays clogged for hours. I don't worry about it too much, but damn is it annoying.

[parkway drive]

your most liekly not breathing properly and tensing really hard causing a pressure to build in your ears, same thing happened to me, make sure you are taking steady deep breaths when working out.

[f1erce]

thanks for the suggestions, its hard to control breathing in steady deep repetitions when running on a breakaway etc.

anyone else experience this?

[BballBuilder]

It's Clearly A Tumaaaa!!!!!!! Aaaaaaaah Get Down!

[Saeco Pink]

thanks for the suggestions, its hard to control breathing in steady deep repetitions when running on a breakaway etc.

anyone else experience this?

You have to consciously practice controlling your air intake. I realize that you're concentrating on a number of things at once, but you'll do well to add in thoughts about controlling your breathing.

My sports are cycling, running, and swimming, all of which demand conscious control of breathing. It takes practice to keep your head together during a sprint, but it's key to keeping from blowing up.

PS: When sprinting, you need to breathe faster rather than slow and measured. I meant that you have to practice breathing faster in a controlled manner so that you get enough air, but also don't hyperventilate.

PPS: I did a few google searches and found something after I entered "strenuous exercise hearing loss" :
http://hearinglosshelp.com/weblog/?p=9

You and the other guy with the same symptom may have a special veinous problem. Look up "LVAS" for more discussion about that.

[HpnotiQ123]

wow this used to happen to me alot before i read that breathing while doing ur sets is just as important as lifting. Sure after it never happened since. Damn, never knew i was close to passing out.

[Ktomek06]

I have this same problem and have been wondering for years what caused it.

[Saeco Pink]

Just want to make it clear that the OP is talking about hearing loss from cardio, not from weight lifting.

I suspect that hearing loss from these two efforts are mainly due to insufficient air intake, but the cardio effort probably doesn't involve increased cranial pressure so much as it involves lack of oxygen in the bloodflow to the brain.

That said, I'm not a doctor.

[RLR101]

Although this thread is extremely dated, I'm not altogether certain where the information in the responses you're receiving is being obtained. I happen to be a retired physician. The cause for your ear problem has to do with your eustachian tubes. Although most persons who experience the phenomenon have seasonal rhinitis, or allergies, it can occur to persons who are otherwise healthy and experience a phenomenon known as vasomotor rhinitis. Vasomotor rhinitis results from changes to the condition of the air, ie humidity or temperature as it enters the respiratory airway. When the body is under exertion and you begin to sweat and alter breathing patterns, the mucous membranes in various locations of the sinuses, nasal passages, pharyngeal region and eustachian canals can become swollen or begin weeping as a result of vasomotor changes.

This is particularly important where the eustachian tubes are concerned because a clear opening is required for pressure equilibrium in order for the tympanic membrane of the ear to function properly. When the tubes become compromised, persons either complain that they can hear their voice inside their ear or ears when talking or that they are experiencing difficulty hearing because the ear feels clogged. Either instance is the result of the same problem. It typically resolves within about 30 minutes to an hour or so after exercise has terminated, but can last longer in some cases. It's sort of the equivalent of getting water trapped in the ear while swimming, with the exception that the moisture in this instance is from your mucous membranes rather than the pool.

If the problem is persistent, you can use decongestants with fairly good results as long as you do not suffer from hypertension or otherwise have allergies to the ingredients contained in these over-the-counter preparations. Alternatively, you can seek referral to an otolaryngologist for more definitive evaluation and treatment.

Best regards ,

Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)

[DaniEllenor16]

Thanks so much for this! This always happens to me and it didn't really concern me, but I'm happy to hear it's nothing to be too worried about!

Although this thread is extremely dated, I'm not altogether certain where the information in the responses you're receiving is being obtained. I happen to be a retired physician. The cause for your ear problem has to do with your eustachian tubes. Although most persons who experience the phenomenon have seasonal rhinitis, or allergies, it can occur to persons who are otherwise healthy and experience a phenomenon known as vasomotor rhinitis. Vasomotor rhinitis results from changes to the condition of the air, ie humidity or temperature as it enters the respiratory airway. When the body is under exertion and you begin to sweat and alter breathing patterns, the mucous membranes in various locations of the sinuses, nasal passages, pharyngeal region and eustachian canals can become swollen or begin weeping as a result of vasomotor changes.

This is particularly important where the eustachian tubes are concerned because a clear opening is required for pressure equilibrium in order for the tympanic membrane of the ear to function properly. When the tubes become compromised, persons either complain that they can hear their voice inside their ear or ears when talking or that they are experiencing difficulty hearing because the ear feels clogged. Either instance is the result of the same problem. It typically resolves within about 30 minutes to an hour or so after exercise has terminated, but can last longer in some cases. It's sort of the equivalent of getting water trapped in the ear while swimming, with the exception that the moisture in this instance is from your mucous membranes rather than the pool.

If the problem is persistent, you can use decongestants with fairly good results as long as you do not suffer from hypertension or otherwise have allergies to the ingredients contained in these over-the-counter preparations. Alternatively, you can seek referral to an otolaryngologist for more definitive evaluation and treatment.

Best regards ,

Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)

[chrismv]

That's lack of sufficient oxygen in your blood caused by your intense efforts.

It's a sign that you're close to passing out.

You need to slow your roll and get control of your breathing during your workouts.

I suspect you also may not be adequately warmed up before you begin your workouts or that you are underfed prior to your workouts.

When you get that sensation, stop immediately and lower your head so that it is positioned below your waistline. That will cause blood to return to your brain. When the clogging feeling disappears, you have regained sufficient blood flow to your brain.

It isn't that you are about to pass out, it is that you don't have enough air flow in your Eustachian tube in you ears. I have this problem and it starts immediately into an intense workout. I was told that having tubes put in my ears may help.

[Mxriderdiva13]

Although this thread is extremely dated, I'm not altogether certain where the information in the responses you're receiving is being obtained. I happen to be a retired physician. The cause for your ear problem has to do with your eustachian tubes. Although most persons who experience the phenomenon have seasonal rhinitis, or allergies, it can occur to persons who are otherwise healthy and experience a phenomenon known as vasomotor rhinitis. Vasomotor rhinitis results from changes to the condition of the air, ie humidity or temperature as it enters the respiratory airway. When the body is under exertion and you begin to sweat and alter breathing patterns, the mucous membranes in various locations of the sinuses, nasal passages, pharyngeal region and eustachian canals can become swollen or begin weeping as a result of vasomotor changes.

This is particularly important where the eustachian tubes are concerned because a clear opening is required for pressure equilibrium in order for the tympanic membrane of the ear to function properly. When the tubes become compromised, persons either complain that they can hear their voice inside their ear or ears when talking or that they are experiencing difficulty hearing because the ear feels clogged. Either instance is the result of the same problem. It typically resolves within about 30 minutes to an hour or so after exercise has terminated, but can last longer in some cases. It's sort of the equivalent of getting water trapped in the ear while swimming, with the exception that the moisture in this instance is from your mucous membranes rather than the pool.

If the problem is persistent, you can use decongestants with fairly good results as long as you do not suffer from hypertension or otherwise have allergies to the ingredients contained in these over-the-counter preparations. Alternatively, you can seek referral to an otolaryngologist for more definitive evaluation and treatment.

Best regards ,

Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)

Thanks Dr. Rane! This all make sense! I know I had ears problems since I was a child with the tubes but as I got older I never could figure it out, and doctor I've ever asked just said waxy build up. Too bad your retired! haha I could use a good MD. ;-)

[wwwaadeli]

I have this problem also and if happen to me during i walk about 20 min or more, play sports... most of the time if happen I turn my head down till my knee then will be beck to normal but it may comes back so the best way is to drink water I always drink water during this happen to me and it will goes a way my ears clog.

[workoutfanatic8]

That's lack of sufficient oxygen in your blood caused by your intense efforts.

It's a sign that you're close to passing out.

You need to slow your roll and get control of your breathing during your workouts.

I suspect you also may not be adequately warmed up before you begin your workouts or that you are underfed prior to your workouts.

When you get that sensation, stop immediately and lower your head so that it is positioned below your waistline. That will cause blood to return to your brain. When the clogging feeling disappears, you have regained sufficient blood flow to your brain.

I've had this problem for years and have never passed out. But putting my head lower than my waistline does relieve the pressure.

[piratevhs]

I've had this problem for years and have never passed out. But putting my head lower than my waistline does relieve the pressure.

So it was fantastic to see others with this condition and possible explanations. and sorry to be a doubting tom but unfortunately I am with what I read. I have the same issues as well but only after intense workouts that are longer in nature. This only happens to me after 45 minutes + of working out and is rare and not seasonal. In fact I thought it was only in summer when it's extremely hot in Arizona but I had it just happen recently when it was 75. I know when I get these it's time to shut it down for afterwards I nearly always get muscle cramps. I thought it was some strange personal sign of dehydration. any links to scientific research on the issue would awesome.

[Cameronbswaggin]

That's lack of sufficient oxygen in your blood caused by your intense efforts.

It's a sign that you're close to passing out.

You need to slow your roll and get control of your breathing during your workouts.

I suspect you also may not be adequately warmed up before you begin your workouts or that you are underfed prior to your workouts.

When you get that sensation, stop immediately and lower your head so that it is positioned below your waistline. That will cause blood to return to your brain. When the clogging feeling disappears, you have regained sufficient blood flow to your brain.

this helped ty

[PaulVlachos]

So it was fantastic to see others with this condition and possible explanations. and sorry to be a doubting tom but unfortunately I am with what I read. I have the same issues as well but only after intense workouts that are longer in nature. This only happens to me after 45 minutes + of working out and is rare and not seasonal. In fact I thought it was only in summer when it's extremely hot in Arizona but I had it just happen recently when it was 75. I know when I get these it's time to shut it down for afterwards I nearly always get muscle cramps. I thought it was some strange personal sign of dehydration. any links to scientific research on the issue would awesome.

I have been suffering for years with clogged ears and muscle cramps. I mistook these episodes for mini heat strokes, but I’ve had it happen In varying temperatures and hydration. Usually after working pretty hard for any prolonged period ( 2 hours or more ) outside. I constantly hydrate and have tried electrolyte stamina pill ( essentially electrolytes and sodium) they seem to help a little but the problem still persists . It definitely happens more when it’s hotter out ( I’m in Florida) twice it has been so bad I felt tingling all over my entire body and full body cramping ( even necks muscles, muscles are my testicles, all over ) I have been to a cardiologist this year and had all kinds of tests to try and figure it out ( ultra sound and ekg of my heart, blood work, and a stress test in which they told me I should run the Boston marathon. I’m active and athletic but when hear episodes happen it can shut me down for a day or 2. If anyone has anything similar I would love some suggestions

[marcusskye]

This just happened to me today. Forgot to eat breakfast this morning. Did sets of 30 pushups every 1/2 hour with a goal of 300 for the day while workings at a stand up desk. Around the 7th set my ears felt strange and stuffed, and I got light headed. After eating and lying down, I felt a lot better.

[OceanCroft]

Thank you so much everyone, I’ve been having this problem the last few months when I’ve been running and my ear clogs up only seconds after (when outside only), it’s been incredibly annoying, especially when I have no way to fix it while I’m exercising. But from the information I’ve gained here I might be able to temporarily or permanently fix it.