Experiencing Pressure in Your Ear? Here’s What You Need to Know

The ear is a very complex piece of anatomy with many different parts inside it. There is one tube inside the ear that often goes unnoticed yet is very important. It’s called the eustachian tube and it links the middle ear to your throat. The main function of this tube is to control the pressure in your ears. When it works properly, your ears shouldn’t feel as though they have pressure in them.

Unfortunately, things can happen that might cause a build-up of pressure. As a result, this can cause pain in the ear – as well as many other problems. So, what causes pressure in your ears and how do you treat it?

Earwax Blockages

Everyone has wax in their ears, and it is perfectly normal. Usually, earwax is soft and will remove itself from your outer ear canal. However, there are times when it can become hard and impacted, leading to a blockage of the canal. As a result, this blocks the eustachian tube in the middle ear, causing the pressure to increase.

Treating earwax blockages is very simple. You can treat them at home using oil drops that will soften the wax and make it naturally remove itself. Or you can contact an audiologist for earwax removal services. To prevent it from happening again, avoid sticking things in your ears as this can push wax deeper down and make it become impacted.

Ear Infections

An infection in your ear can also cause pressure inside it. What tends to happen is that your ear starts to generate fluid when it is infected. This fluid then makes the eustachian tube fail to function correctly, stopping it from equalizing the pressure in your ears. As a result, you get the sensation of a full ear that’s ready to burst.

The best way to treat ear infections is by getting a diagnosis. Learn what type of ear infection you have, and a course of antibiotics or eardrops will usually be the treatment. When the ear infection goes, try to avoid doing things that can cause it from happening again. Once more, avoid putting things in your ears as they can carry bacteria that cause infections!

Sinus Problems

If you experience congested sinuses, this can cause pressure in your ears. It blocks up the eustachian tube and stops it from controlling your ear pressure. Sinus problems can be the result of colds, the flu or allergies.

Therefore, you must treat the cause to prevent sinus problems. Usually, an over-the-counter nasal spray or saline solution is all you need to help with this. Both products can unblock your sinuses and allow pressure to release from your ears.

Changes in Air Pressure

Finally, experiencing pressure in your ear is a common symptom when the air pressure changes abruptly around you. For most of us, this will be experienced when flying in a plane. During takeoff and landing, the air pressure changes dramatically and you can feel the pressure building in your ears. When the plane lands or steadies itself in flight, the feeling should gradually subside.

To counter this, audiologists recommend you chew something while the plane is taking off or landing. The movement of your jaw will naturally unblock your ears and prevent pressure from building up. You can also get earplugs made that help to control the pressure.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Pressure in Your Ear

Ear pressure can be uncomfortable, but many people learn to live with it. As a result, they ignore the pressure altogether. Ignoring ear pressure isn’t wise because it can lead to further issues if left unattended. One common problem is a perforated eardrum.

This happens when the pressure build-up is so strong that it causes a hold in the eardrum. As such, this leads to extensive ear pain that can last for weeks.

Even worse, experiencing pressure in your ears can also lead to hearing loss. The build-up of pressure affects your ability to hear things, often meaning sounds sound muffled or distorted. If you leave this without treating it, you damage the quality of your life. The good news is that this type of hearing loss can be reversed as it is caused by the presence of pressure. So, removing and easing pressure in your ear will restore your hearing.

If you need any help or advice relating to pressure in your ears or hearing loss, feel free to contact our team today. You can call Brentwood Hearing Center at (615) 866-0431 to hear more about what we can do to help!