Ear Pressure

What causes ear pressure?

While a middle ear infection can cause ear pressure, in most cases, the underlying problem is eustachian tube dysfunction. Ear pressure builds up when the eustachian tube is either blocked or doesn’t open properly. This is common in children and adults alike.

Your eustachian tube is a narrow tube connecting your middle ear behind the eardrum  to the nasal cavity in the back of your nose. The tube’s job is to equalize the air pressure on both sides of your eardrum, ensuring that the pressure inside your ear is the same as the air pressure in your environment.

The eustachian tube opens when you swallow, yawn, or chew. This motion allows air to flow into the middle ear. At the same time, any excess fluid in the middle ear can flow out to the back of the nose with the rest of the mucus in your nose.

What conditions affect eustachian tube function?

The most common causes of a blocked eustachian tube are:

  • Common cold

  • Allergies

  • Sinus infection

  • Ear infection

  • Throat infection

  • Allergic rhinitis

  • Enlarged adenoids

These health conditions cause inflammation and swelling that can prevent the eustachian tube from opening. It’s also possible for the lining inside the tube to become swollen.

What symptoms develop in addition to ear pressure?

While feeling pressure is the primary symptom, you may also experience:

  • Ear pain

  • Clogged ears

  • Changes in hearing

  • Ringing in your ear

  • Popping or clicking sounds

  • Ticklish or itchy ears

Many patients also describe a feeling of fullness in their ears. The combination of pressure and fluid accumulating in the middle ear often lead to ear pain.

Eustachian tube problems can be much worse when flying on an airplane, driving through altitude changes, or diving or snorkelling. 

How is ear pressure treated?

You may be able to open the eustachian tube and relieve your ear pressure by closing your mouth, holding your nose, and gently blowing air against your closed mouth and ears. Yawning, chewing gum, or rinsing your nose with saline and blowing your nose may also help.

Your doctor at Beach Cities ENT may recommend decongestant sprays or pills or even antibiotics or steroids  to treat underlying colds, infections, and inflammation. If allergies are behind the problem, then you may need allergy testing and treatment.

When your ear pressure continues despite conservative measures, your Beach Cities ENTS doctor may suggest a procedure such as eustachian tube balloonplasty, myringotomy with ear tube insertion, or endoscopic sinus surgery. 

You may also need surgery to remove enlarged adenoids or polyps if these are contributing to your ear pressure.

You don’t need to put up with uncomfortable ear pressure. Call Beach Cities ENTS or schedule an appointment online today.