What Causes Ear Pressure, and What are Some Solutions?

Have you noticed a cold or flu can also make your ears feel stuffy? Your ears, nose, and throat are interconnected, so when you have a problem in one area, it can cause problems in the other areas. Congestion in the ear(s) is just one of numerous symptoms that can occur when there’s an issue with the nose, sinuses, or throat.    

The Cause of Ear Pressure

The small passageway that links your middle ear to your throat is known as the Eustachian tube. This tube helps to balance the pressure in your middle ear by opening up whenever you sneeze, swallow, or yawn. This system stops air pressure and fluid from accumulating inside your ear canal, behind the eardrum.   

When there’s an obstruction in the Eustachian tube, noises can sound muffled. It’s normal to feel pressure, pain, and fullness in your ears. Your Eustachian tubes can become partially blocked due to allergies, colds, flus, or sinus infections. Inflamed tissues and mucus discharge are primary reasons for dysfunction in the Eustachian tube.      

Air travel or traveling up high altitudes can also change the way your Eustachian tubes are not functioning properly. 

Tips to Relieve Ear Pressure

In order to use the best remedy, you must identify the cause. 

Primary Causes of Sinus Congestion:

• Allergies
• Virus infections (colds and flus)
• Sinus infections
• Environmental irritants from cigarette smoke 

Remedies:

• Nasal decongestant
• A neti pot or saline solution can be used as irrigation for your nose.
• A humidifier. Dry air can irritate your nose which is already inflamed.
• Aromatherapy. Eucalyptus oil can open the airways. You can inhale it through a steaming method by placing some drops in your bath water or inhaling it directly from the bottle.   
• Every two hours, drink one glass of clean, high-quality water throughout your day. Also drink a lot of herbal teas, vegetable juice, and broths. Loosen mucus by increasing the amount of liquid you consume.  

Managing Fluid Buildup
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If there are drainage issues in your ears, fluid can build up. As a result, fluid can become trapped behind the eardrum. Here are some symptoms that you may notice: 

• Dizziness
• Feelings of fullness in the ear
• Hearing loss
• Imbalance problems
• Popping, tinnitus
• Pressure in the ear

Core Causes

• Allergies
• Colds or infections related to the congestion
• Ear barotrauma
• Sinus infections

If the problem is not resolved, the fluid build-up behind the ear can lead to a rupture. 

Remedies to remove fluid from the ear canals:

• Gently pull on your ear lobe as you tilt your head toward your shoulder.
• Apply a hot compress for 30 seconds, then remove for a minute. Repeat this until you feel relief. Lay on your side while doing this. 
• Use an over-the-counter ear drop. 

Earwax Buildup

Earwax, or cerumen, can build up when it becomes pushed deeper into the ear canal or obstructs the ear canal. This blockage can lead to hearing loss, dizziness, pain/fullness in the ears, pressure, and tinnitus. Q-tips should not be used to clean the ears. This will push the earwax further in the canals. Wearing hearing aids or earplugs can also cause cerumen buildup.   

The best way to remove earwax is by running warm water in the ear canal (during a shower) for a couple of minutes. You may use an irrigation kit for this. When the water softens the wax, it will drain through the outer ear.   

Allergies

Ear congestion can be caused by allergies. Antihistamines and decongestants can relieve allergy-related ear pressure, along with other symptoms. Be aware that some medications can cause hearing loss, so discuss this with your hearing healthcare provider.

Traveling by Air or High Altitudes
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When you are on a plane that’s about to take off or land, a sudden pressure change can occur in your environment and the middle ear. This imbalance stops your eardrum from vibrating the way it should. Ear pain, full feelings in the ear, and pressure can cause “airplane ears”.

Remedies to reduce pressure: 

• Yawn, chew gum, or swallow as the plane takes off or starts landing to activate the muscles that open the Eustachian tubes. 
• Use the Valsalva maneuver. This involves pinching your nostrils shut and gently blowing your nose, while your mouth is closed. Do this as often as necessary. 
• Wear filtered earplugs. These will help equalize the pressure in your ears.
• To manage congestion, use a nasal spray 30 - 60 minutes before takeoffs and landing. 

Infections in the Middle and Outer Ears

Otitis media, or more commonly middle ear infections, can cause symptoms of dizziness, hearing loss, and pain in the ears. The culprit is usually viruses from respiratory infections.

Swimmer’s ear, or outer ear infections (otitis externa), is usually caused by water that’s left in your ear after it is exposed to moisture. Water that becomes trapped after swimming or bathing is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and thrive. 

Usually, ear infections will resolve themselves. Ear drops and pain medications can help relieve symptoms.

There are various causes of ear pressure. It’s important to find the cause of it and treat it appropriately. There’s generally a simple home remedy. If symptoms worsen, seek professional help. If you are noticing hearing loss as a result of ear pressure, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  

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