Experiencing pressure in your ear? Pressure is a term used to describe a sense of fullness or stuffiness, often caused by a blockage in the ear canal or pressure on the eardrum. This pressure can be very irritating and, in some cases, could be a sign of a health problem that needs treating.
This article delves into some of the possible causes of pressure in the ear and what you can do to relieve this pressure.
Changes in Altitude
Our ears do not always react well to rapid changes in altitude. Quite often, pressure can build up in the eustachian tube, which can stretch out the eardrum, causing pain and a sense of fullness. Activities like ascending or descending in a plane, driving up and down a mountain, using an elevator or scuba diving can all cause this.
You may be able to relieve this pressure by swallowing, yawning or by pinching your nose and blowing gently. Pressure in the ears rarely ever causes serious problems, although there are cases where the eardrum can perforate if pressure is too intense.
Ear Infections
Ear infections can develop in the middle ear or ear canal and may create a sense of pressure. They are also typically accompanied by pain or itchiness. Some people may even experience partial hearing loss or a fever. The infection is caused by bacteria or fungi thriving within the ear, sometimes accompanied by a build-up of fluid or earwax.
There are many different reasons that an infection can start – it could be due to water in the ear, it could be due to an infection that has spread from the sinuses or it could just be the result of too much bacteria getting into the ear.
Ear infections typically require seeing a doctor and can usually be cleared up with a prescription of antibiotics or eardrops. A doctor may also recommend other forms of treatment depending on how severe the infection is.
Sinus Problems
Our sinuses connect our nose, mouth, eyes and ears and are responsible for creating mucus to get rid of pathogens. Our sinuses may become congested with mucus as a result of a cold, sinus infection or allergic reaction. This can cause various symptoms such as a stuffy nose, headache and often pressure in the ears.
Treating the congestion should help to relieve the pressure. Inhaling steam and using decongestant nasal sprays can often be effective. If you have a sinus infection, antibiotics may be required. Antihistamines can meanwhile help if it is the result of an allergic reaction.
Impacted Earwax
It’s healthy to have some earwax in our ears. However, sometimes earwax can become overproduced, or it can become trapped in the ear canal. This leads to a blockage known as an earwax impaction which may cause partial deafness and a sense of pressure.
It is worth using ear drops to help get rid of impacted earwax. In serious cases, professional ear cleaning may be required. Never use cotton buds when attempting to clean out earwax – quite often this just pushes earwax deeper into the ear.
Foreign Objects
In some cases, pressure in the ear could be caused by a foreign object becoming trapped in the ear. This could be anything from an earbud to food. Young kids are most likely to experience this problem from stuffing objects in their ears.
Professional ear cleaning will be able to get rid of the foreign object. It is important to remove it quickly to avoid any further injury or infection.
Other Problems
There are a few other rarer causes of pressure in the ears. These include:
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
- Meniere’s disease
- Cholesteatoma
- Acoustic neuroma
A medical professional or audiologist should be able to help diagnose these problems so that you can seek out the appropriate treatment.
How to Treat Pressure in the Ear
If you are not sure what is causing the pressure in your ear, it could be worth seeing an audiologist. They will be able to inspect your ears and hopefully identify the cause. You can then seek out the appropriate treatment.
Here at GL Wyeno Hearing Specialists PC, we have a team of highly qualified audiologists who can attend to your needs. Whether you’re having problems with pressure in your ears or are having other problems such as hearing loss or tinnitus, we can help. Call us today at (402) 463-2431 to make an appointment.
