Ear Pressure: How to Relieve Pressure in Your Ears

Ear pressure is the sensation of fullness, stuffiness or clogged up feeling within the ear. It occurs when the eustachian tube of the ear becomes blocked or stops functioning correctly. There are many causes for ear pressure such as sinus congestion, allergies, or a cold. Ear pressure can also occur due to sudden, dramatic shifts in air pressure, such as those experienced when flying in an airplane or scuba diving, this is often referred to as Barotrauma. There are also several medical issues that can cause ear pressure or aural fullness, ear infections, fungal infections, swimmer’s ear, ear wax build up, a foreign body in the ear canal, temporomandibular joint damage, and Meniere’s disease to name a few. There are also numerous symptoms that may accompany ear fullness these accompanying symptoms affecting the ears can include:

• Difficulty hearing
• Pain or tenderness around the ear or in the bone behind the ear
• Itching
• Pus or other secretions draining from the ear
• Redness, warmth or swelling

There are many ways to relieve ear pressure and depending upon the cause the method of relief may be very simple, or you may need medical treatment. The simplest is to do a simple Valsalva maneuver. To do this just sit down, take a deep breath, and hold it, pinch your nose shut, close your mouth, and forcefully blow, like blowing up a balloon. This will usually force the eustachian tube open relieving the ear pressure. Do not try this if you have any cardiac problems. If the ear pressure is caused by a cold, sinus congestion or allergies then a decongestant and/or a nasal spray can help relieve the symptoms. Also, a humidifier may be used to help keep the sinus clear. Do not use nasal decongestant sprays for more than 3 days. If the pressure persists after 3 days seek medical attention. If air travel really causes you ear pain, don’t wait for the pain to hit to try to relieve pressure. Before you get on the plane, try a nasal spray or oral decongestant. Pills and capsules can take a while to get into your system and begin working. So, take them at least 30 minutes to an hour prior to takeoff.

Ear congestion occurs when your Eustachian tube becomes obstructed or is not functioning properly. The Eustachian tube is a small canal that runs between your nose and your middle ear. It helps equalize the pressure in your middle ear. When the Eustachian tube becomes clogged or closes off, you feel fullness and pressure in your ear. You might also experience muffled hearing and ear pain. These ear congestion symptoms can also be caused by problems in your middle ear or the ear canal that affects the eardrum (also called the tympanic membrane).

Barotrauma, barotitis media, aerotitis media, or airplane ear are all names associated with ear pressure when traveling by plane or changing altitudes over a short period of time. You may also experience a minor case of barotrauma while riding an elevator in a tall building or driving in the mountains. This is caused as stress on your eardrum occurs when the air pressure in your middle ear and the air pressure in the environment are out of balance. When an airplane climbs or descends, the air pressure changes rapidly. The eustachian tube often cannot react fast enough, which causes the symptoms of airplane ear. Swallowing or yawning during ascent and descent, this opens the eustachian tube and allows the middle ear to get more air, equalizing the air pressure. You can suck on candy or chew gum to help you swallow. If this is a persistent problem when you travel use an over-the-counter nasal spray. If you have nasal congestion, use a nasal spray about 30 minutes to an hour before takeoff and landing. Try filtered earplugs, such as “earplanes”. These earplugs slowly equalize the pressure against your eardrum during ascents and descents. You can purchase these at drugstores, airport gift shops or a hearing clinic. Lastly, do not sleep during takeoffs and landings. If you are awake during ascents and descents, you can do the necessary self-care techniques when you feel pressure in your ears. If discomfort, fullness, or muffled hearing lasts more than a few days, or if you have severe signs or symptoms, seek medical attention.