How to Relieve Ear Pressure
Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD
Ear pressure can be an unpleasant sensation. You might notice fullness, stuffiness, muffled hearing, or pain within your ear.
It happens when the ear’s eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of your nose and helps balance pressure, becomes blocked or stops working as it should. Illnesses, altitude changes, and wax buildup are possible culprits of ear pressure.
This article discusses the causes of ear pressure, how to relieve the discomfort, and when to see a healthcare provider.
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Altitude Changes
Rapid altitude changes, like when you fly or ride an elevator, can put stress on your middle ear and eardrum. As a result, your eustachian tube can’t equalize the pressure in your middle ear with the air around you. You might feel pain, pressure, fluid buildup, dizziness, or temporary hearing loss.
Treatment
If you experience ear pressure due to altitude changes, it might help to:
Swallow
Chew gum
Blow your nose
Yawn
Foreign Object in the Ear
A foreign object in your ear can cause pain, ringing in the ear, or hearing difficulties. Some examples of objects that could get lodged in your ear include:
Insects
Food
Toys
Buttons
Treatment
If you think there’s a foreign object inside your ear, it’s best not to try to remove it yourself. Never poke or prod the object, which could push it deeper into your ear. Seek help from a medical professional who can safely remove the object.
Earwax Buildup
Earwax buildup is another possible cause of ear pressure. When wax collects, it can cause a blockage against the eardrum. If your ear canal gets plugged up with earwax, you may notice an earache, cough, loss of hearing, infections, or other issues.
Treatment
A healthcare provider can remove earwax manually. At home, you can place a few drops of plain water, a saline (saltwater) solution, or hydrogen peroxide in your ear and tilt your head to let the wax drain out. There are also over-the-counter ear drops that help break up the wax. Never remove earwax with a cotton swab; this approach can push the wax deeper into the ear.
Sinus Congestion
Sinus congestion causes mucus to collect in your sinuses, leading to ear pressure or pain. You may develop sinus congestion if you have a viral infection, a sinus infection, or allergies.
Treatment
Ways to ease symptoms of sinus congestion at home include:
Use a saline nasal wash.
Use a saline nasal spray.
Drink lots of water.
Apply a warm compress to the nasal area.
Take an antihistamine medicine.
Ear Infections
Some infections of the ear can lead to ear pressure. There are different types of ear infections.
Middle Ear Infection
A middle ear infection (otitis media) is an infection in the middle ear behind the eardrum. This type of ear infection commonly affects children. It's caused by a bacterium or virus in the middle ear.
Symptoms might include ear pain, trouble hearing, and drainage from the ear. Antibiotics are sometimes used to clear a middle ear infection.
Fungal Infection
A fungal ear infection (otomycosis) is caused by a fungus that grows and spreads in your ear. It can cause pain, itching, a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing loss, and leaking fluid from the ear.
Treatment options include antifungal medicines, ear drops, creams, or ointments. Cleaning the fungal debris from the ear canal and keeping the ear dry can also help fight fungal infections.
Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear refers to an outer ear and ear canal infection. An infection (like the common cold) or swimming in water that contains bacteria can cause it.
Symptoms may include ear pain, hearing loss, itching, or drainage from the ear. Antibiotic ear drops, oral antibiotics, or steroids are treatment options.
Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is a condition that causes dizzy spells known as vertigo. The condition usually only affects one ear, and symptoms include hearing loss, ringing in the ear, or pressure.
Treatment
There’s no cure for Meniere’s disease, but healthcare providers often prescribe medicines to help with vertigo. A healthy diet low in salt may also help alleviate symptoms.
Cholesteatoma
Cholesteatoma is an abnormal growth or cyst that gets trapped behind your eardrum. It can cause ear drainage, hearing loss, ear pressure, dizziness, pain, and frequent ear infections.
Treatment
A healthcare provider will surgically remove the growth or cyst.
Acoustic Neuroma
Acoustic neuromas are noncancerous tumors that develop on a cranial nerve that leads from the brain to the inner ear. They can cause symptoms such as one-sided hearing loss, ringing in the ears, dizziness, ear pressure, and loss of balance.
Treatment
If the tumor is small or is not causing symptoms, a healthcare provider may monitor it. Other treatment options for acoustic neuromas are surgery or radiation therapy.
Chronic Otitis Media
Chronic otitis media refers to ear infections that keep coming back. A hole in the eardrum that does not heal in six weeks is considered chronic ear infections.
Treatment
You may need to take antibiotics for several months for chronic otitis media. A healthcare provider can suction the fluid; surgery to repair the eardrum is sometimes necessary.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect the joint that runs along the sides of your jaw. TMJ problems may cause pain in the ears, jaw, cheeks, head, neck, and teeth.
Treatment
TMJ discomfort will often go away on its own. However, you may require medications, surgery, injections, physical therapy, or an oral mouth guard. To help ease symptoms, eat soft foods, massage your jaw muscles, and apply heat or ice when needed.
Surgical Procedures for Chronic Ear Pressure
Some medical procedures can help treat chronic ear pressure.
Myringotomy
Myringotomy is a surgical procedure that creates a hole in your eardrum to allow fluid in the middle ear to drain out. A small tube is often placed into the hole to help encourage drainage. This procedure can help treat persistent fluid buildup in the ear.
Ear Tubes
Ear tubes are small tubes surgically placed in the eardrum to help drain fluid. They are often inserted as part of a myringotomy procedure. Most ear tubes will fall out on their own after 12–36 months.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
See a healthcare provider if you have severe ear pain or pressure that doesn’t go away. You should especially see a professional if your ear pressure is accompanied by:
Hearing loss
Dizziness
Fever
Bleeding or drainage from the ear
Facial weakness
Balance problems
Summary
Many factors, including illnesses, altitude changes, a foreign object, wax buildup, or something else, can cause ear discomfort and pressure. Usually, medications, home remedies, or even surgical procedures can help relieve the pressure. See a healthcare provider if the pressure becomes extremely painful or lasts long.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
