You’ve powered through the runny nose, cough, and fatigue. The cold is gone—but your ears feel like they’re stuffed with marshmallows. Don’t worry. You’re not alone, and it’s not permanent.
Your Eustachian tubes connect your middle ear to the back of your nose and throat. Their job? Equalize pressure and drain fluid. During a cold, inflammation and mucus clog these narrow tubes, turning your ear into a tiny, pressurized chamber. blocked ears after a cold
Even after other symptoms fade, the inflammation and sticky mucus can take 1–2 weeks to fully resolve. You’ve powered through the runny nose, cough, and fatigue
💧 Saline spray (to thin mucus) 👄 Yawn or chew gum 🤿 The Valsalva maneuver (gently— gently —blow while pinching your nose) 💊 A decongestant or nasal spray (short-term use) You’ve powered through the runny nose