TREAT THIS WEIRD INDOOR TRAINING PROBLEM: SWIMMER’S EAR

F Turns out, you don’t have to swim in a pool to get swimmer’s ear – that’s just the most common way to end up with the mild ear infection. Sweat, especially when it pools and gets pushed into your ear from an overly tight earbud, can also cause swimmer’s ear, which makes your ear feel like it’s full. “Anything that traps heat and moisture, such as headphones or clothing, can set the skin up for problems,” says Dr Matt Marchal, a family medicine physician and former team doctor for pro cycling teams.

HOW TO TREAT IT: “If your ears are particularly moist, a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol can dry them out,” Marchal says. “I also recommend cleaning your headphones with rubbing alcohol after rides.”

HOW TO PREVENT IT: If you’re a heavy sweater, skip earbud-style headphones altogether and opt either for over-ear headphones or a good speaker system. Your set-up may need an extra fan as well. “Get a good fan – or fans, preferably – to aim at different parts of the body,” Marchal says. “Your legs may be dry, but if your head is soaking wet, you can get swimmer’s ear, because there’s no airflow around your head.”

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION: The symptoms should subside in a couple of days on their own; but if they persist for a week, or you start to experience pain or dizziness, call a doctor.