Dealing with the pain and discomfort of ear pressure buildup can interfere with your daily life. The pain may come and go, or be a chronic issue, but finding out what’s causing it can get you one step closer to treatment.

Ear pressure buildup can have common and uncommon causes. Learn what these causes are from your McAllen sinus specialists at Glatz Group.

The Common Causes of Ear Pressure Buildup

There are many common factors that can cause ear pressure buildup. These causes have often been linked to ear pressure buildup, and treatment can be made available once diagnosed.

Some common causes of ear pressure buildup include:

I. Sinus-Related Issues
Sinus and ear congestion can have common causes. Some of these causes include the flu, common cold, allergies, sinus infections, and irritants. If your ear pressure is building up due to sinus-related issues, your doctor may prescribe a treatment for those problems.

II. Fluid Buildup
Fluid buildup in your ear can lead to ear congestion. This can happen when water gets in your ear while showering or swimming. Allergies, eustachian tube dysfunction, and infections can also contribute to fluid buildup in the ears.

III. Wax Buildup
The purpose of earwax is to help clean, protect, and lubricate your ear canal. In certain circumstances, earwax can build up and block the eardrum. If you use cotton swabs to remove earwax, it can push the earwax even further into the ear canal.

IV. Allergies
Allergies can cause pressure to build up in your ear due to the mucus getting backed up into your eustachian tube. Tissues can also swell up in the eustachian tube due to nasal allergies.

V. Travel
The change in air pressure when flying can put stress on your middle ear and eardrum. This often happens during takeoff and landing due to the rapid air pressure changes.

The Less Common Causes of Ear Pressure Buildup

Although less common, there are other instances that could cause your ear pressure buildup. Some of the less common causes include:

• Meniere’s Disease — Meniere’s is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness and hearing loss. One of the symptoms of this disease is fluid buildup, which can also lead to the buildup of ear pressure.
• Cholesteatoma — This abnormal growth develops in the middle ear because of an ear infection or poor Eustachian tube function.
• Acoustic Neuroma — An acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous tumor that grows on the nerve leading from your inner ear to the brain.
• Fungal Infection of the External Ear — A fungal infection can occur in people who swim, live in tropical climates, have diabetes or chronic skin conditions.
• Serous Otitis Media — This middle ear disorder can cause a buildup of clear or serous fluid.
• Afflictions of the Jaw Joints — Afflictions of the temporomandibular joints can cause symptoms that are felt in your ears. This can happen if your jaw is misaligned due to an injury, arthritis, or chronic grinding of your teeth.

Seek Treatment For Your Ear Pressure Buildup With Our Sinus Doctor at Glatz Group!

If you’re dealing with ear pressure buildup, our McAllen sinus doctor can help. Identifying the cause of your ear congestion can allow our ENT doctor to get to the root of your problem and diagnose the proper treatment.

Whether common or uncommon, our sinus specialists will figure out what is causing your ear pressure buildup.

Schedule an appointment today with your McAllen sinus doctor at Glatz Group of Valley ENT to get to the bottom of your ear pressure buildup.

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If you’ve ever suffered from post-nasal drip, you’ve probably tried various at-home and over-the-counter remedies. For many, these offer great success, but there comes a time when it’s necessary to see a doctor. Knowing when to seek the help of your doctor can help you carefully judge and monitor your post-nasal drip symptoms.

Find out when you should see your doctor for a post-nasal drip from your McAllen sinus specialists.

The Common Symptoms of Post-Nasal Drip

Knowing the symptoms of post-nasal drip can help you identify when and where to seek treatment. Although symptoms may vary for each case, some common symptoms of post-nasal drip include:

• Feeling as if you need to constantly clear your throat or swallow
• A cough that worsens at night
• Nausea from excess mucus moving into your stomach
• A sore, scratchy throat
• Bad breath

If you’re dealing with any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from post-nasal drip. At first, it’s best to monitor these symptoms at home and notify your doctor if they worsen with time.

The First Line of Defense Against Post-Nasal Drip

Before you run to the doctor, there may be some things you can do at home to treat post-nasal drip. Your first line of defense against post-nasal drip includes:

• Over-the-counter decongestants
• Newer antihistamines
• Saline nasal sprays
• Sleep with your head slightly elevated to encourage drainage
• Stay hydrated
• Drink warm or hot liquid to thin out mucus

Some of these at-home treatments can help with your post-nasal drip or make the symptoms less bothersome until you can seek help from your doctor. If you’re not sure whether at-home treatments are right for you, seek the guidance of your doctor or medical professional.

When to Seek Treatment for Children

Each case of post-nasal drip is different, and children should be treated differently than adults. If you suspect your child is suffering from post-nasal drip, is younger than 2 months old, and has a fever, you should seek treatment from your doctor.

It’s also best to seek medical attention if your baby’s runny nose or congestion causes trouble with nursing or breathing. Once you see symptoms arising, watch them closely, and if there’s no change or they become more severe, reach out to their pediatrician immediately.

When to Seek Treatment for Adults

As an adult, you’ll be able to judge your symptoms and know if you require a doctor’s visit. If you’re an adult suffering from post-nasal drip, contact your doctor if:

• Your symptoms last more than 10 days
• You have a high fever
• Your nasal discharge is yellow or green along with sinus pain or fever
• You have blood in your nasal discharge
• You have persistent clear discharge after a head injury

If any of these symptoms apply to you, reach out to your doctor for treatment.

A sinus specialist can examine you and prescribe the best treatment option for you.

Seek Treatment for Your Post-Nasal Drip With Our Sinus Doctor!

Once you discover that you’re suffering from post-nasal drip, it can be difficult to know when to seek treatment from your sinus doctor. At Glatz Group, our sinus specialists can take a look at your post-nasal drip and get you the treatment you need.

Reach out to your McAllen sinus specialists today to seek treatment for your post-nasal drip. Our team will be happy to take care of you and get you back to your happy, healthy self!

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