What causes Ear Pressure? What can you do about it?

When you get a cold or flu, it makes you feel miserable. Your ears, nose and throat are all connected to each other, so when one area experiences a problem, the other areas do too. Pressure in your ears is one of the symptoms that occur as a result of a condition that affects your nose, throat or sinuses.

Ear Pressure

There is a small pathway that connects your middle ear with their throat. This is known as the Eustachian tube. This tube balances the pressure that builds up in your middle ear by opening whenever you sneeze, swallow or yawn. This stops air pressure and fluid building up in your ear canal, which is positioned behind your eardrum.

If the Eustachian tube becomes clogged, sounds may become muffled and you might not hear very clearly. You may also feel pain, pressure, or a fullness in your ears. Side effects from allergies, sinus infections, colds or flus, can create a partial blockage in the openings of the Eustachian tube. Inflammation tissue and mucus that is secreted are signs of dysfunction in the Eustachian tube. 

If you travel by air or go up in elevated altitudes, this can also cause malfunctions to your Eustachian tube. 

Issues regarding your sinuses

As previously mentioned, your ears, nose, throat and sinuses are interconnected. If there is an issue with one area, it can affect another area. Congested sinuses can lead to pressure and feelings of fullness in your middle ear. 

Common causes of sinus congestion:

• Allergies
• Sinus infections
• Virus infections like a cold or flu
• Tobacco smoke and similar chemicals in your environment

Remedies to relieve sinus congestion and pressure:

• Nasal decongestant.
• A Neti pot or saline solution can be used to irrigate your nasal cavities. 
• A humidifier can be used to keep the air in your home moist. Dry air may irritate your inflamed nasal passages.
• Aromatherapy, such as eucalyptus oil may clear up your airways. Inhale them from a steaming bowl of water, basin filled with water, or your bath water. 
• Drink a glass of high quality, purified water every two hours throughout your day. You can also drink herbal teas, vegetable juices and/or broths. This extra liquid consumption will loosen mucus.

Fluid Buildup

If there is an issue with your drainage tubes, fluid may buildup in your ears. This flaw can lead to trapped fluid behind your eardrum. Here are some possible symptoms when fluid becomes trapped:
 

• Dizziness
• Feelings of fullness in the ear
• Hearing loss
• Issues regarding your balance
• Popping or tinnitus symptoms
• Pressure in the ear

Root causes:

• Allergies
• Colds or other infections that lead to congestion
• Ear barotrauma
• Sinus infections

It is vital to determine what is stopping the tubes from properly draining fluid. If this issue goes untreated, the fluid buildup behind your ear can lead to a rupture.

How to remove fluid from your ear canals:

• Tug on your earlobe as you tilt your ear towards your shoulder.
• While lying down on your side, apply a hot compress to your affected ear for 30 seconds, and then remove it for a minute. Repeat this until you feel relief.
• Try an ear drop that can be purchased from your local drugstore. Make sure the drop includes alcohol so that it will dry out after usage.

Earwax buildup

This occurs when wax (cerumen) is pushed deep and becomes impacted within your ear canal or obstructs the entire width of the canal. Earwax blockage can lead to hearing loss, dizziness, pain in the ear, feeling of fullness in the ear, pressure and tinnitus. Cleaning your ears with a cotton swab can inadvertently lead to blocked up ears. Hearing aids or earplugs can also lead to more earwax buildup.
The best, and safest method to extract earwax from your ears is by flushing warm water or a saline solution in your ear canal for a few minutes. An irrigation kit may be used. After the water makes the wax softer, it will make its way out to the outer ear where you can wipe it away.

 Allergies

Allergies are another possible cause of ear congestion. Antihistamines and decongestants can relieve ear pressure caused by allergies or other symptoms. Antihistamines can be sold over-the-counter or prescribed by your healthcare provider. 

Traveling by Air

During takeoffs and landings, the sudden shift in air pressure can lead to a change between air pressure in your middle ear and your surroundings. The imbalance stops your eardrum from vibrating when it should be. Pain, feelings of fullness and pressure in the ear can all be signs of airplane ears.

How to treat Airplane Ears:

• Yawn, swallow or chew on gum as the plane ascends or descends. This will trigger the muscles that open up the Eustachian tubes.
• Try using the Valsalva maneuver. Gently blow your nose, while your mouth is closed, and pinch your nostrils shut. Do this as necessary.
• Wear filtered earplugs. These will help to gradually equalize the pressure in your ears. 
• If you feel congested, use a nasal spray 30 minutes to an hour prior to takeoff and landing. 

  
Middle Ear and Outer Ear Infections

Middle ear infections (otitis media) can lead to many different symptoms like dizziness, hearing loss, pain in the ears. The cause of middle ear infections are viruses that induce respiratory infections.

An outer ear infection (otitis externa) is known as swimmer’s ear.  They are generally caused by water that becomes trapped in your ear. This is an ideal condition for bacteria to grow and thrive. 

Usually, ear infections will clear up on their own. Pain and other symptoms can be relieved with ear drops and pain medications. If your symptoms get worse, even after treating them from home, contact your healthcare provider.  

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aid brands including HANSATON, Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Rexton, Signia, Starkey, Unitron and Widex.  

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs and re-fittings. If you need hearing aid service, we ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. A staff member from our office will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  

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