Running Issues & Solutions; Plugged Ears / Ears Blockage While Running

After recovering from Illiotibial Band Syndrome last year, I have been running injury free and with no issues at all - except for last weekend while I was running my 4th Half Marathon at Putrajaya Night Marathon 2012. For the first time in my life (other than while I was scuba diving or flying in a plane) I got plugged ears while I was running! It started after I ran around 9km or something (if I can remember correctly).

With a bit of biology background (I studied Biology during matriculation - ended up with Civil Engineering Degree. LOL!!), I did some research online on how I got my Eustachian (pronounced "you-STAY-shee-un") Tube clogged while running and how to cure them.

Having nearly all of the symptoms below (mine highlighted YELLOW), I can confirm that my hypothesis was indeed correct. Apart from that, I can also hear both my heartbeat and my heavy breathing which is really annoying. Symptoms (reference: WebMD):

• Ears that hurt and feel full.
• Ringing or popping noises in your ears.
• Hearing problems.
• Feeling a little dizzy. *I felt REALLY dizzy
• A fever, which can be a sign of an ear infection.

Pressure is build up in the Eustachian Tube and can't be equalized since it is clogged. (Source: stanford.edu)

How to solve this? I found that the solution depends on how severe the plugged ears is. I'd recommend trying one by one until it is solved.

• Usually, drinking water or swallowing saliva will cure it - it cures mine..
• If you can force yawn (I can!) while running, this is a better solution (stanford.edu: "....the Eustachian tube opens with every swallow or yawn to act as a pressure-equalizing valve for the middle ear. It also serves to drain the mucus produced by the lining of the middle ear").

Possible cure that I never tried:

• Breath through your mouth could help (http://therunningrecipe.com: "...during exercise air breathed through the nose can cause blocking of the eustachian tube because of air blocked beneath the ear drum. Breathing through the mouth would solve the problem.")
• Tilt your head to the side, pull on your ear lobe then shake your head. (Best answer at answers.yahoo.com: "...may be,tilt your head to the side, pull on your ear lobe then shake ur head. (it works trust me!) then if its still not wroking sahke ur head to the side and hit it and get alittle bite more into it keep pulling the ear lobe. tilt your head down...")

If plugging effect doesn't go away, I'd assume that it is severe. That is exactly like what happens to me during Putrajaya Night Marathon last week. My research online shows some pretty easy way of dealing with these severe plugged ears problem - I haven't yet tested any of them though.

• "Take decongestant pill or nasal spray 1 Hour before flight" I forgot where I found these. I'd assume if I change the word "flight" to "run" or "work-out" it would give the same effect??
• "...treatment is with steroid and anti-histamine nasal sprays for about 3-4 weeks along with Afrin for 3 days (do NOT use Afrin or any other nasal decongestant spray for more than 4-5 days due to risk of rhinitis medicamentosa)." - Source: fauquierent.net.
  *Is nasal corticosteroids the same thing? They relieve the swelling of tissues in the nose and ear, and they are especially effective for people with allergies.
  **Instructions on CORRECT nasal spray use for Eustachian Tube dysfunction. - Source: fauquierent.net 
• In extreme situations, a "pressure equalization tube" (PET) can be surgically placed in the eardrum, replacing the role of a functioning Eustachian tube, and thus guaranteeing equalization of middle ear pressure.

There are many other ways to counter them, I listed the possible cures that I am willing to try. In exception to surgically place PET in my ear drums.

With friends after the disastrous run. (From left) Zas @ 10th place, *me @ 22nd place, Bad @ 20th place, & Silahudin @ 7th place. Although I did my PR - 1:41:17 Hours. Given this year training regime, I should do better.

***Just a simple reminder. NEVER scuba when you have flu. This is a rule of thumb that I've broken once that led to rupturing of my blood vessels in the nose cavity as a result of high pressure build up because I failed to equalize my ears. I have headache and bloody snot for nearly 2 weeks + I have to visit ENT specialist just to know why.