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.