An Ear Full of Symptoms: Pressure, Pain & ear Fullness

You may have heard this one. Common advice says it’s wise to listen to your body.  When you experience ear issues, it’s also important to pay attention.

Clogged. Stuffy. Muffled. Pressure. 

These can be common signs of ear fullness.

It may also sound suspiciously similar to sinus and nasal allergy issues.

What causes ear fullness? Is it serious? How can you relieve uncomfortable symptoms? And how does all of this relate to your sinuses? Keep reading to learn more about ear fullness, its causes, and how it can be interrelated to your sinus health:

First things first—it’s all connected

Your sinuses, ears, nose, and throat are closely connected. Because of this, a problem in one area often leads to another. In fact, ear congestion is one example of the many miserable symptoms you may encounter when dealing with conditions impacting your sinuses, nose, or throat.

What exactly is ‘ear fullness’ and the typical signs?

People can experience ear fullness for a variety of different reasons. In general, ear fullness is the feeling your ears are clogged or congested—and doesn’t go away through usual methods of eliminating this sensation (i.e. yawning or swallowing).

You may feel pressure, or experience muffled or impaired hearing. Other symptoms that may accompany ear fullness can include pain or tenderness around or in the ear,, itching, drainage, and even swelling, redness, and warmth.

The why: how ear pressure works—let’s talk Eustachian tube

The Eustachian tube is the tiny passageway that connects your ear to your throat and allows the drainage of fluid from your middle ear. It plays an important role in equalizing pressure in your ear, by opening when you sneeze, swallow, or yawn. When functioning normally, this prevents air pressure and fluid from building up inside your ear canal, behind your ear drum.

When the Eustachian tube gets plugged up, you may not hear clearly and sounds may become muffled. It also commonly leads to feeling pressure, discomfort, and fullness in your ear. Tissue inflammation and mucus secretions can largely be a part of the reason for Eustachian tube dysfunction.

Additionally, if your Eustachian tube is blocked and not functioning properly, fluid can build up and may cause the middle ear to become infected—leading to pain, swelling and other symptoms.

Allergies, sinus infections, the common cold or the flu, can all cause the opening of your Eustachian tube to become partially blocked.

Finding Ear Relief

How do you get rid of the pressure in your ear? Okay, the answer is: it depends. The good news is that it’s possible to alleviate your symptoms. However, to find the best remedy and relief from ear fullness, first, you have to identify the cause.

Here, again, are some of the most typical causes:

          • Problems with your sinuses
          • Allergies
          • Buildup of fluids
          • Earwax buildup
          • Air travel
          • Middle ear and outer ear infection
Cause and effect—common to complex

Ear fullness probably most commonly results from congestion due to the common cold and usually resolves with self-treatment. Sinus congestion and stuffiness can also affect the pressure in your ears—and treating the congestion may help.

Of course, that’s not always the case, and sometimes it can be indicative of a more serious condition. It’s always advisable to get checked out and share your concerns with a physician, especially when it’s accompanied by other, more severe, prolonged symptoms.

If you are reading this blog, perhaps your ear issues may likely be more complex. When you suffer from chronic sinusitis, allergies, and other sinus health issues, a more comprehensive, personalized treatment plan may be necessary to achieve relief.

Relief.  Sound like music to your ears?

Call today to schedule a consultation. We’ll help you get to the bottom of your ear fullness symptoms and on the right path to relief for you!