How to Relieve Sinus Ear Pressure

Sinus ear pressure is a common occurrence and is observed in people of all age groups, including small children. In this condition, a number of symptoms such as earache, congested feeling in the ears and nose, constant ringing sound in the ears and head, temporary loss of hearing, dizziness, etc. cause a lot of discomfort.

Most of the time, the sinus pressure is not just confined to the ears but can also be felt at the top of the nose, areas around the eyes, forehead and jaw area. If it is accompanied by a fever, then it is a clear sign of an infection that can affect the sinuses as well as the ear canal.

The underlying cause behind sinus ear pressure is congestion of sinus cavities. An irritation in the lining of the nasal passage caused by allergens or infection causing bacteria or virus leads to overproduction of the mucus and the sinus cavities get blocked and inflamed.

The sinus drainage then overflows and gets into the ear through the Eustachian tube that lies in between middle ear and back of the throat. The task of draining out the fluid from the inner ear is carried out by the Eustachian tube only. This way, it also maintains a pressure within the ear, which enables us to hear properly.

Since the opening of the Eustachian tube at the back of the throat is already blocked by mucus, it cannot eliminate the fluid from the ear. The accumulated fluid then causes inflammation within the ear canal and you can thus feel an increase in the ear pressure.

Sinus ear pressure is diagnosed with the help of its symptoms and thorough physical examination of the ear and nose. The sinus infection is treated with the help of antibiotic medicines, which have to be taken orally. These medicines destroy the bacteria that trigger infection in the sinuses as well as ears.

The dosage and duration of the antibiotic therapy is different for every individual and it depends on the severity of the infection. Another important aspect of this treatment is to relieve the ear pressure. This is done with the help of decongestants, which are used internally as well as externally.

There are decongestant pills that need to be taken orally and is also available in the form of nasal sprays, which have to be applied directly into the nasal passage to reduce the inflammation there. Allergy induced sinus congestion symptoms are controlled with antihistamine medicines.

If the oral medicines and nasal sprays fail to bring down the ear pressure, then it suggests that there is an excessive fluid build up in the ears, which can trigger ear infections again and again. To prevent recurrence of such an infection, doctors opt for a surgical procedure known as 'myringotomy'.

Here, a small incision is made in the eardrum and a tube is inserted through it that can drain out the fluid from the inner part of the ear. It is a minor surgery and is conducted under general anesthesia.

The inserted tube is left untouched for the next 8-9 months, which makes your ear free from fluid and infection. After that, as the eardrum heals, the inserted tube falls off naturally.

The condition of sinus ear pressure lasts for almost 2 weeks or so and badly disrupts your normal life activities. During this time, you can take some measures at home to ensure quick relief so that you can carry on with your daily activities. They are as follows -

Drink Plenty of Fluids: When you drink more and more fluids, the thick mucus inside the nasal passage becomes thin. Draining out the thin mucus becomes easy and you can get rid of the stuffy nose. This eases the ear pressure to some extent.

Sleep with an Elevated Head: Those who have experienced sinus ear pressure will agree with me that falling asleep in this condition is quite difficult because of the constant pressure felt in the ears. To minimize this pressure from the ear, you should put 2-3 extra pillows under your head. When you lie down in this position, you can get a sense of relief from the congested feeling and can catch some good sleep.

Apply Warm Compression on the Ear: Too much of ear pressure gives rise to an annoying pain that refuses to go. Soak a washcloth in a bowl of warm water, squeeze out the extra water from it and then place it over the ear for 10 minutes. The warm, wet cloth gives a soothing relief from the pain. Repeat it several times in a day after a gap of 1-2 hours.

Take a Warm Water Bath: When the ear pressure is bothering you too much, take a shower (warm water) for 15-20 minutes. The warm water lessens the pain and discomfort associated with the ear pressure almost instantly, and you feel rejuvenated.

So, you know by now, how to relieve sinus ear pressure with and without medicines. I would like to advise you that when you face this ear problem, then you must seek medical advice first and then carry out home treatment methods.

Do not try to resolve the problem with home treatments only as there are chances of developing an ear infection, which if left untreated, can lead to serious complications like loss of hearing ability. Take care!