Ear pressure: 6 causes and remedies | Connect Hearing

As mentioned above, sinuses, ears, throat, and nose are closely connected. Problem impacting one area will often involve another. When your sinuses are congested, they can create middle ear pressure and a feeling of fullness.

The most common causes of sinus related congestion are:

• allergies
• viral infections such as the common cold and the flu
• sinus infection
• tobacco smoke and similar environmental irritants

There are several remedies you can use to relieve your symptoms of sinus congestion and the associated pressure:

• Try a nasal decongestant.
• Use a neti pot or a saline solution to irrigate your nasal cavities.
• Use a humidifier to keep the air moist. Dry air can be irritating to your already inflamed nasal passages.
• Use aromatherapy. Eucalyptus oil can help open up your airways. You can use it in steam inhalation, place a few drops in your bath water, or inhale it from the bottle.
• Drink one glass of clean, quality water every two hours during the day. Drink plenty of herbal teas, vegetable juices, and broths. Increasing the amount of liquid will help loosen mucus.

Fluid builds up in your ears when there is a problem with your drainage tubes. This dysfunction can cause fluid to be trapped behind your eardrum. Some of the symptoms you may experience when you are dealing with trapped fluid:

• Popping, ringing
• Feeling of fullness
• Ear pressure
• Hearing loss
• Dizziness
• Problem with your balance
• Colds or other infections causing congestion
• Sinus infections
• Allergies
• Ear barotrauma

It is important to figure out what prevents the tubes from draining properly. If the problem remains unresolved, the accumulated fluid behind your eardrum can cause it to rupture.

It is important to figure out what prevents the tubes from draining properly. If the problem remains unresolved, the accumulated fluid behind your eardrum can cause it to rupture.

Here are our tips to help remove fluid from your ear canal:

• Tug on your ear lobe while tilting your ear toward your shoulder.
• Use a hot compress. Apply it for 30 seconds, then remove for a minute. Repeat this process until you get relief. Make sure you lay on your side.
• Try an OTC (over-the-counter) ear drop. Make sure the drop contains alcohol for its drying effect.

Earwax buildup happens when the wax gets pushed deep within the ear canal or blocks the full width of the canal. A wax blockage causes several symptoms, such as hearing loss, dizziness, ear pain, ear fullness, pressure, and tinnitus (ringing in the ear). You might inadvertently cause your ears to become blocked when you use Q-tips to clean them. If you use hearing aids or earplugs, you are also at higher risk of wax buildup.

Mineral oil can also be used to soften the earwax prior to its removal. However, consulting a healthcare professional to extract the earwax is the safest way to have it removed.

Allergies can also cause ear congestion. Taking antihistamines and decongestants can relieve your allergy-related ear pressure and other symptoms. Antihistamines come in different forms. Tablets, capsules, liquids are some of the most popular formations. Some brands are only available by prescription. Check with your healthcare provider to help choose one for you.

During takeoff and landing, the rapid change in air pressure can cause a pressure difference between the air pressure in the middle ear and the environment. This imbalance prevents your eardrum (tympanic membrane) from vibrating as it should. Ear pain, a feeling of fullness, and pressure can all signal a condition often referred to as airplane ears.

Here are some tips to correct the condition:

• Yawning, chewing gum and swallowing during ascent and descent will activate the muscles that open the eustachian tubes.
• Valsalva maneuver – Blowing your nose gently with your mouth closed while pinching your nostrils will help open your ears. Do this as often as necessary.
• Using filtered earplugs will slowly equalize the pressure in your ears.
• If you are congested, try a nasal spray 30 minutes to an hour before takeoff and landing.

Middle ear infections (otitis media) produce a variety of symptoms, such as hearing loss, dizziness, and ear pain. Viruses that cause respiratory infections are often to blame.
Outer ear infections (otitis externa) are frequently called swimmer’s ear. They typically result from water remaining in your ear after exposure to moisture. Trapped water after swimming or bathing provides a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Most of the time, your ear infection will resolve on its own. Ear drops and pain medications can, however, be beneficial in relieving your pain and other symptoms. If your symptoms worsen in spite of home treatment, it is a good idea to visit your doctor.