The body naturally produces earwax to line and protect the skin of the ear canal, that interior tube leading to the inner ear. This sticky mixture of hair, skin, sweat and other elements is connected by a liquid substance produced by ear canal glands. Though the wax in our ears might not seem to serve much purpose, this natural gunk is actually a key component not only in protecting the ear, but also in maintaining bodily balance. So when there is not enough earwax in the ear or when the wax becomes too compacted, sensations of vertigo and dizziness may arise.
Under normal circumstances, the ear cleans itself when earwax exits the ear along with skin sloughed off from the ear canal. However, when earwax is pushed too far into the ear canal and is densely packed, it is less easily lifted and carried along with the shedding skin. This tends to happen when people attempt to clean their ears using a cotton swab or finger but inadvertently push the earwax deep into the ear canal. When the earwax is pushed back too far, the result can be temporary hearing loss and a weakened sense of equilibrium.
As the earwax is pushed deep into the inner ear, it blocks a bundle of nerves that regulate the body's ability to maintain balance. With this important nervous signal coated over by a waxy substance, the body's ability to keep balance and avoid dizziness is weakened.
Dizziness related to earwax can also occur when enough of the substance builds up so that it fills up the ear canal and places pressure against the ear drum. This abnormal pressure on the ear drum burdens the middle ear bones, which then strains the regular working of the semi-circular inner ear canals. The inner ear canals then transmit a signal to the brain that normal ear functioning has gone awry. This domino effect of disrupted ear canal activity can cause the affected person to feel dizzy, light-headed and even nauseated.
Removing the earwax that's putting pressure on the eardrum and inner ear canals should cause the feelings of dizziness to subside. A health care professional should remove the wax if it is too impacted or pushed too deeply into the ear canal. Once the offending wax buildup is gone, a person's natural sense of balance will be restored as all the interconnected pathways of the ear are cleared, and it's back to business as usual.
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