Pressure in ear canal can have several causes behind it. This article discusses the most common of them, and a few strategies to deal with it.
Have you ever felt a muffled sound in your ears or your ears being clogged by something? If so, then you may not worry about it, if it's just an occasional occurrence. But if occurs frequently, then you may be experiencing a symptom of pressure difference in your ear canal.
The eustachian tubes are structures in the ear that are responsible for stabilizing the pressure on both sides of the eardrum. So any kind of damage to this part causes a malfunction in the pressure regulation in the ear.
And this pressure may be accompanied by pain, or a low-grade hearing loss. The rest of the write up has put down a brief explanation on the causes of this condition, along with some tips to help reduce its severity.
What Causes Pressure to Build Up in Ear Canal?
Ear canal pressure could be related to many conditions. The following lists out the most common factors cause this condition.
The first culprit is a sudden change in air pressure. While flying, the sudden ascent of the flight and the descent causes a significant change in the atmospheric pressure, which results in pressure difference between the air inside the airplane and the outside.
So this difference may overwhelm the Eustachian tube thus, causing the build up of pressure and the pain in the ear. Some people may also experience a ringing sensation in their ear besides the pressure while flying.
An infection of the middle ear, or allergic reaction may also cause the same condition. And so a condition of chronic sinus infection, or too much accumulation of earwax.
Solution
Avoiding triggers is the main aim of the treatment. The tips are as follows
Considering the first cause, as mentioned above, while in a flight, you can perform exercises which would help you avoid the build up of ear pressure and pain.
This you can do by yawning with your mouth wide open, chewing, swallowing, eating, or simply opening and closing your jaw, especially when the flight is ascending and descending.
• If sinus infection is the cause, then opt for nasal decongestants, and nasal sprays. At home, soak a washcloth in warm water, and place it near the affected ear. Do not forget to squeeze out the excess water. You can also try the steam therapy.
Keep the hot shower running in your bathroom, and let the space get filled with steam. Stand inside it and inhale. The humidity of the surrounding would help in clearing the nasal passages, and relieve the pressure in ear canal.
If an allergy is the offender, then taking antihistamines may help, and if it is a middle ear infection, then antibiotics are good enough.
Speaking of earwax, using cotton swabs is not considered safe lest it may damage the eardrum. Instead go for commercially prepared earwax cleaning solutions. Such stuffs help in dislodging the accumulation, and also helps in clearing out the ear canal.
Medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or analgesic pain relievers may also come in handy for relieving the pain caused due to the pressure.
It is important to understand that if the feeling of pressure in your ear canal doesn't go away with all the above methods, then it would not be a safe choice to sit on it and wait. If all such methods do not respond, then it may indicate that the condition is more serious than thought to be.
So in such a case get medical help. It would not only help you to rule out potential problems, but would also help in preventing any major complications such as hearing loss.