Can water that enters the ears really flow into the brain? Come and "wash your ears and treat your brain"

Author: Chen Jiameng: The Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Reviewer: Chen Zhengnong, Chief Physician, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

How can we miss the fun and romance of playing in the water during the hot summer! In this unbearable hot season, people gather in groups to play in the water to cool down and forget about the "heat". However, it is inevitable that water will enter the ears when playing in the water. According to common sense, once water enters the ears, just shake your head gently and the water should flow out, but this is not the case in reality. Why is this?

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This has to start with the physiological structure of the ear canal. The ear is mainly composed of three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The outer ear includes the auricle and the external auditory canal. The external auditory canal, which we often call the "ear canal", is a tunnel composed of cartilage and bone. The total length of the external auditory canal of an adult is about 2.5 to 3.5 cm, and it is connected to the middle ear through the eardrum. It is worth noting that the shape of the external auditory canal is not a straight line, but has a certain degree of curvature. Such a physiological structure helps protect our hearing system from external damage.

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When we were young, we often worried: If water gets into the ears, will water also get into the brain? In fact, this worry is unnecessary. The ears are not the "windows" of the brain. They are isolated from each other by complex anatomical structures. In particular, there is an important barrier between the outer ear and the middle ear - the eardrum. As long as the eardrum is not perforated by "human violence", water that gets into the outer ear will not flow into the middle ear to damage hearing, let alone into the brain.

It is common to have water in the ears when taking a bath, washing your hair or swimming. Some people may rush to use various tools to pick their ears in an attempt to drain the water. But please note that the ear structure is delicate and the slightest carelessness may damage the external auditory canal or even the eardrum, thus causing ear diseases. Especially when there is a large amount of cerumen (commonly known as "earwax") in the external auditory canal, once water enters, the cerumen may swell and block the ear canal, causing a stuffy feeling in the ear. Some people may also experience symptoms such as dizziness and tinnitus, and even suffer from acute external otitis. If not handled properly, it may also cause ear blockage and hearing loss; if the eardrum is injured, it may also cause otitis media. So, what should we do in this situation?

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The correct way to deal with it is as follows:

Step 1: Lift the ear. Gently pinch the upper part of the auricle with your fingers and pull it upward and backward to open the external auditory canal.

Step 2: Tilt your head. While keeping your ear lifted, tilt your head toward the side of the ear where the water is entering, so that the external auditory canal faces the ground. At this time, use the gravity of the liquid itself and wait for a moment to let the water flow out naturally. After that, you can use a clean cotton swab to gently absorb the water at the opening of the external auditory canal. In addition, when tilting your head, you can also try to move your jaw by yawning or chewing gum to help drain the remaining water in the ear.

If the ear congestion persists after trying the above methods, you can consider using hydrogen peroxide ear drops, but the premise is to ensure that there is no ear infection or eardrum perforation. If the symptoms are not relieved after using ear drops, it may indicate excessive earwax, especially for individuals who secrete oily earwax, which may cause blockage in the ear canal and aggravate the stuffy feeling. At this time, it is recommended to go to the ENT department in time for a professional doctor to perform earwax flushing.

Commonly used incorrect "drainage" methods:

1. Single-leg jumping method: Many people try to use gravity and the impact force generated by jumping to make the water flow out of the external auditory canal naturally. However, since the structure of the external auditory canal is not straight but S-shaped, this method often cannot completely drain the water. Instead, it may cause a fall due to loss of balance. Especially the elderly should be particularly cautious when using this method.

2. Cotton swab method: Water in the external auditory canal often accumulates deep in the ear canal, close to the eardrum. Using cotton swabs to absorb water from the ear canal may cause scratches on the external auditory canal or damage to the eardrum due to careless operation, which may lead to external auditory canal bleeding, acute inflammation of the ear canal, or even perforation of the eardrum. In addition, if there is earwax in the ear canal, using cotton swabs to absorb water may push it deeper into the ear canal, aggravating the feeling of stuffiness in the ear and causing hearing loss.

3. Natural air drying method: This method is relatively safe, but considering the small diameter and curvature of the external auditory canal, it takes a long time to dry naturally. The external auditory canal is in a moist state for a long time, which is easy to breed bacteria or fungi, thereby increasing the risk of infection.

In order to avoid various ear diseases caused by water entering the ears, we can take the following waterproof measures before participating in water projects:

1. Check the ear canal before swimming. If there is earwax accumulation, it should be cleaned immediately to prevent the earwax from swelling up due to water and blocking the ear canal, thereby causing inflammation.

2. Patients with otitis media and tympanic membrane perforation should avoid swimming, as dirty water may enter the middle ear through the hole and aggravate the condition. If you must go swimming under special circumstances, you can use a cotton ball dipped in vaseline to gently block the external auditory canal to protect the ear from damage.

3. When diving, be sure to pay attention to your posture and method of entering the water to avoid the eardrum being directly hit by the strong impact of the water surface. Once the eardrum is damaged, water entering the middle ear may cause hearing damage.

Ears, as our important auditory organs for perceiving the world, are the bridge that connects us to the world. They allow us to receive and feel the beauty and diversity of the world. To protect our ears, we should start with you and me, and start with the details. Let us listen to the most wonderful sounds in the world together!

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