Causes of ear stuffiness

Very often, ear congestion develops due to a sharp change in external pressure. For example, during a flight or when jumping into water. For some people, even a quick descent/ascent up the stairs can cause discomfort.

Ear congestion during and after otitis

Otitis is the most common inflammatory disease of the hearing organs. The pathological process occurs in the middle ear and often has an infectious etiology. Inflammation occurs against the background of a weakened immune system, after and during flu, colds. Another possible cause is the peculiarities of the anatomy of the nasal septum, which disrupt the normal discharge of mucous secretion. One of the frequent complications of the disease is the blockage of the auditory canal, that is, ear congestion.

Since the organ of hearing has a complex structure, each of its parts can be involved in the inflammatory process. Based on this, three main types of otitis are distinguished:

1. External - most often occurs due to injuries, hypothermia, dirty water getting into the ear cavity. It manifests itself as painful sensations, congestion and decreased hearing quality. Swelling, an unpleasant odor from the auricle, a rash, boils in the ear canal are possible. It occurs in several forms: mild, diffuse, necrotizing and otomycosis.
2. Middle is the most common form of otitis. It is often a complication of colds, acute respiratory viral infections, rhinitis, sinusitis, measles, and flu. The main symptom is pain that can radiate to the teeth and head, and a feeling of congestion in the ear. It has several stages: acute eustachitis, catarrhal inflammation, preperforative stage of acute purulent inflammation, postperforative and reparative.
3. Internal – labyrinthitis can be a complication of flu, measles, sinusitis, head injuries. It manifests itself as headaches and dizziness, impaired coordination, complete or partial hearing loss. It occurs in simple and exudative forms.

Most often, the pathological process is unilateral, but bilateral inflammation is also possible. The disease is distinguished by the type of pathogen: bacterial, fungal, allergic, viral, traumatic. There are also acute and chronic forms, purulent and non-purulent otitis.

Ear congestion after otitis usually occurs because the inflammatory process is not completely stopped. Hearing loss is possible with swelling in the auditory tube, earwax plugs, perforation of the eardrum, cysts and tumors. The painful condition can be accompanied by changes in voice, a feeling of noise and crackling in the ears, headaches.

With proper treatment, the discomfort goes away in 3-5 days. If the hearing loss persists for a longer period of time, then medical assistance is required. For treatment, the patient is prescribed a course of medications and physiotherapy procedures aimed at eliminating swelling and normalizing blood flow in the ear cavity. If the disease is left to its own devices, it can lead to mastoiditis, which is characterized by severe pain and swelling of the skin behind the ear. There is also a risk of developing meningitis, that is, brain damage.

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Ear congestion after ARVI

Acute respiratory viral infection is one of the most common respiratory diseases. It is transmitted by airborne droplets. Its main pathogens are adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, influenza and parainfluenza viruses. The infection affects the nose, paranasal sinuses, throat, larynx, bronchi, lungs, trachea and even the conjunctiva. ARVI is accompanied by painful symptoms and can cause a number of complications. Ear congestion is one of the latter.

The mechanism of development of auditory canal congestion:

• The nasopharynx is connected to the ear cavity by a special channel – the Eustachian tube. Air moves through it, and mucus accumulated in the tympanic cavity is removed.
• Normally, the auditory tube independently regulates the intra-ear pressure and adjusts it to the atmospheric pressure. If the air flow is disrupted, the pressure is lost.
• With ARVI, the nasal mucosa and auditory tube swell, which leads to problems with normal air movement. A person experiences discomfort when perceiving sound information.

Treatment begins with restoring normal nasal breathing. Vasoconstrictor drops are used for this. As a rule, this is enough to normalize hearing. In particularly severe cases, the help of an otolaryngologist is required. If you leave the unpleasant symptom untreated, it will lead to otitis, that is, the inflammatory process will move to the tympanic cavity. This is dangerous due to partial or complete hearing loss.

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Ear congestion due to a cold

A cold is a disease caused by more than 200 respiratory viruses. It manifests itself as a sore throat, runny nose, increased lacrimation, cough, fever, headaches, general fatigue. It is characterized by gradual development with increasing symptoms. This is why the first symptoms are ignored and the disease progresses.

Ear congestion during a cold is caused by inflammation of the throat and nose. All three organs are interconnected.

• The external auditory canal of the ear ends with the eardrum. On the opposite side of the eardrum is the middle ear.
• The pressure in all parts of the organ must be the same. It is controlled by the auditory tube, which connects the air chamber of the middle ear to the pharynx.
• If the auditory tube does not function properly, this causes a disturbance in the perception of sound information.

The blockage of the auditory canal very often occurs against the background of a long-term runny nose. Mucus accumulates in the nasal passages, which disrupts air circulation. When blowing your nose, the pressure in the tympanic cavity increases and blocks the ear.

In order to eliminate discomfort, you should cure the cold. It is also recommended to rinse each nasal passage with an isotonic solution and use vasoconstrictor drops (only as prescribed by a doctor). Massage of the outer ear will not be superfluous. At the same time, it is contraindicated to warm up the affected area or pick with an ear stick. Proper treatment of a cold will help prevent the initial stage of otitis media - eustachitis.

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Ear congestion without a cold

In addition to a cold, there are many other causes and factors that cause hearing loss. The unpleasant condition occurs against the background of a weakened immune system, with a long-term runny nose, a strong cough.

A sharp pressure drop at a great height or depth causes discomfort. In such conditions, our hearing organ cannot quickly readjust and because of this, the eardrum begins to be pressed into the Eustachian tube. After some time, the congestion passes, but a slight tingling in the ears may remain.

Ear problems may be associated with diseases of other organs. This may be sinusitis, cardiovascular pathologies, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, craniocerebral trauma, and much more. In order to determine what exactly caused the hearing loss and eliminate the problem, you should seek medical help from an otolaryngologist.

Ear congestion after flu

Influenza is an acute infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract caused by viral agents and pathogens. One of the dangers of influenza infection is its complications. These include decreased hearing, ear pain, itching, congestion and a feeling of noise.

To treat hearing loss after the flu, first of all, you need to get rid of the runny nose. It is the stuffy nose and constant sniffling that can cause ear pain. For this, vasoconstrictor drops are used, and the nasal sinuses are washed with isotonic solutions.

You should also take care to strengthen your immune system. Vitamins C, B, E, and a balanced diet will be useful. Don't forget about preventive measures and vaccinations to prevent influenza infection.

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Ear congestion due to osteochondrosis

Cervical osteochondrosis is a pathology in which the intervertebral discs become thinner. The degenerative process affects the structures in the cervical vertebrae. This causes compression of the spinal nerves that control blood circulation and metabolic processes in various tissues of the head and neck.

Problems with perception of sound information arise due to disruption of blood supply to the nerves responsible for innervation of components of the auditory analyzer. Disruption of transmission of nerve impulses leads to imbalance of internal pressures on both sides of the eardrum. This in turn causes spasm of the auditory tube and a feeling of congestion.

Special exercises, anti-inflammatory drops, ear blowing and other methods of treating otological diseases are not effective. To normalize hearing, it is necessary to restore the damaged structure of the nerve fiber and cure osteochondrosis. If you leave the painful condition without medical care, there is a risk of developing serious complications.

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Ear congestion due to a runny nose

The middle ear is anatomically connected to the nasopharynx, as it is located behind the eardrum. Infection from the maxillary sinuses can get into the middle ear area. As a result, an inflammatory process occurs, which provokes swelling of the auditory tube.

• When you have a runny nose, a large amount of mucus forms in the nasopharynx, which disrupts the normal circulation of air in the Eustachian tube. This causes a complex of painful symptoms, including congestion, noise and itching in the ears.
• Possible causes of hearing loss during a runny nose may also include enlarged lymph nodes in the nasopharynx, and the formation of earwax plugs due to increased production of ear secretions. Another possible cause of the disorder is inflammation of the facial nerve.

Treatment consists of washing the nose from mucus and eliminating swelling of the internal membranes with vasoconstrictor drops. Acupressure helps relieve the painful condition, improving microcirculation and removing swelling, facilitating nasal breathing and hearing.

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Ear congestion due to sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal maxillary sinuses. They are small cavities in the maxillary bone, located on the sides of the nasal passages. Normally, they are ventilated during breathing. But when an infection penetrates, the mucous membrane of the nasal sinuses becomes inflamed and swells, blocking them. This leads to further development of the infection.

Symptoms of sinusitis include ear pain, hearing loss, pain in the forehead and temples, a feeling of constriction in the sinuses, general weakness and malaise, toothache. If the ears are blocked, this indicates the progression of the disease.

Treatment is aimed at eliminating pathogens that caused sinusitis. For this purpose, antibacterial and antiviral agents, drops, compresses, and physiotherapeutic procedures are used. The danger of this pathology is that without timely medical care, there is a high risk of developing acute otitis, meningitis, bronchitis, orbital abscess, blood poisoning, and pneumonia.

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Ear congestion after flying on an airplane

Many people report that their ears get blocked in the plane. The unpleasant symptom occurs during ascent and landing. The hearing loss is caused by changes in atmospheric pressure in the plane.

During takeoff/landing, the pressure in the tympanic cavity decreases, and the process of its vibration during sound perception is disrupted. After a couple of minutes, the pressure in the tympanic cavity adjusts to atmospheric pressure and hearing returns to normal. But some people feel congestion for a certain period of time after the flight.

If several hours have passed since the flight and your hearing has not recovered, you can use one of the following methods:

• Close your mouth and pinch your nostrils with your fingers. Blow slowly. This helps equalize the pressure in the auditory tube. The procedure should be done carefully, because if you overdo it, you can damage the eardrum.
• Pinch your nose and take a few sips of water or simulate swallowing. This method restores pressure in the middle ear.
• A warm compress will be useful. Take a handkerchief and hold it in hot water. Wring it out well and apply it to the ear.

To prevent your next flight from causing ear problems, put some vasoconstrictor drops in your nose before takeoff. They will reduce swelling of the mucous membrane. Use earplugs to reduce air pressure during the flight. Chew gum, yawn, open your mouth slightly, and swallow.

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Ear congestion after bathing

Very often after swimming in the sea, pool or even in the bathroom, the ears become blocked. The problem occurs when the head is completely immersed in water. During immersion, the liquid gets into the external auditory canal and is retained in it. Water contacts the eardrum and disrupts its normal vibrations when perceiving sound waves. This manifests itself as hearing loss.

To get the water out, just tilt your head to the side and jump on one leg, pressing and pulling your palm sharply from the auricle. You can lie on your side, swallow several times, or move your ears. Carefully cleaning the ear canals with a cotton swab will also help.

If you can't get rid of the water in your ear, you should see an otolaryngologist. Long-term congestion may indicate swelling of the earwax plug due to a large amount of fluid. In this case, the ENT will remove the plug and clean the ear canal. If you leave this problem untreated, there is a risk of inflammation, pain, and even exudate from the affected organ.

Ear congestion due to sinusitis

Sinusitis is an infectious inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The disease occurs with swelling of the mucous membrane and blockage of the anastomosis between the nasal cavity and the maxillary sinuses. Gradually, the mucus takes on a purulent viscous consistency.

Most often, the disease develops due to bacteria and viruses that penetrate the maxillary sinus through the nose or blood. The inflammatory process can be a complication of acute respiratory viral infections, flu, infections from diseased teeth, allergic reactions.

Hearing problems and ear pain are one of the symptoms of sinusitis. Shooting pains in the head and eyes, deterioration of general health and weakness also occur. Treatment is aimed at eliminating the pathogen, clearing the nasal cavity and reducing its swelling. Antibacterial and antihistamine drugs, antiseptic solutions and physiotherapeutic methods are used in the course of therapy. As a rule, hearing is restored within 5-7 days from the moment of treatment.

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Ear congestion with VSD

Vegetative-vascular dystonia is a complex of disorders and disorders caused by pathologies of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is responsible for the work of internal functions and maintains internal dynamic balance. It manifests itself as noise and congestion in the ears, headaches, rapid heartbeat, panic attacks.

Since impaired perception of auditory information is one of the signs of VSD, the following causes of the unpleasant symptom are distinguished:

• Panic attacks - during the adrenaline crisis, the vessels are strongly compressed and the nervous system is very active. Because of this, there is noise in the ears, which leads to the ears being blocked. If a person with VSD has problems with blood circulation, then hearing loss occurs on a regular basis.
• Hypertension – with high blood pressure, the vessels are in spasm. The ear arteries lose tone and do not pass enough blood to the head. This causes pain and noise.
• Diseases of the central nervous system – increased sensitivity of nerve endings reacts acutely to any irritation, causing various pathological symptoms.

Based on this, ear drops for congestion due to VSD are not effective. To normalize hearing, you should eliminate bad habits, balance your diet, avoid stressful situations, and promptly treat any disorders in the body.

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Ear congestion with tonsillitis

Acute tonsillitis or angina is an acute infectious and inflammatory disease. Most often it occurs due to streptococcal infection, which affects the tonsils. Due to the action of pathogenic microorganisms, the mucous membrane of the tonsils becomes inflamed and swells. The inflammatory process spreads to the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, throat and other adjacent areas.

Blockage of the auditory canal is one of the symptoms of angina. Long-term inflammation in the ear canal can cause otitis. For treatment, drug therapy is carried out using antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. Hearing returns to normal within 5-7 days from the start of treatment. If otitis develops against the background of angina, therapy is longer and there is a development of complications.

Ear congestion after a pressure chamber

An oxygen chamber is a medical device similar to a bathyscaphe and used for therapeutic purposes. Inside the chamber capsule is oxygen-saturated air. The patient is placed inside the device for a certain period of time, during which he breathes pure oxygen. The procedure is aimed at restoring the functioning of the body at the cellular level.

Some patients note that their ears become blocked after the pressure chamber. The unpleasant condition develops due to hyperbaric oxygenation. It is also necessary to consider the presence of contraindications for oxygen therapy, which can cause ear pain: arterial hypertension, nasal breathing disorders, inflammatory processes, acute respiratory diseases. No special treatment is required. Hearing is restored a couple of hours after the procedure.

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Ear congestion after diving

Divers are most susceptible to otological pathologies. This is due to the fact that the hearing system cannot cope with the rapid change in pressure that occurs during diving.

The obstruction of the auditory canal after diving develops because the middle ear has air-filled spaces. They are connected to the Eustachian tubes and the nasopharynx. During the dive, a strong pressure gap occurs. This is what causes barotrauma.

There are several methods of pressure equalization, let's consider them:

• Pinch your nose and swallow a couple of times. The muscles will open the auditory tubes, and the movement of the tongue will increase the air flow into the middle ear.
• Tighten your soft palate and throat muscles. Move your jaw forward and down, yawn.
• Pinch your nose and tense the muscles, making a "K" sound. This exercise lifts the back of your tongue, and the compressed air opens the Eustachian tubes.

The above exercises should be performed before and after diving. Dive feet down, throwing your head up to open the auditory tubes. Avoid nicotine, ethyl alcohol and dairy products before diving. The latter provoke increased mucus secretion. If you dive incorrectly, there is a risk of developing barotrauma and decompression sickness of the inner ear.

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Ear congestion when blowing nose

When you blow your nose, the pressure increases, which affects the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear and the nasopharynx. When you blow your nose, there is a risk that mucus can get into the auditory tube, causing inflammation and swelling. Another cause of hearing problems is improper cleaning of the nose, when a person does not pinch each nostril in turn.

In order to eliminate problems caused by nose blowing, the following procedures should be performed:

• Apply dry heat to your nose.
• Make an alcohol compress for the ear.
• Use vasoconstrictor nasal drops and ear drops.
• Yawn, opening your mouth wide.
• Swallow your saliva a couple of times.
• Place your palms firmly over your ears and quickly remove them.
• Close your nose with your fingers and suck in air.

If the above methods do not help, and hearing problems are accompanied by painful sensations, then you should consult an ENT doctor. Without timely treatment, there is a risk of complications: sinusitis, sinusitis, otitis, etc.

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Ear congestion due to hypertension

Hypertension is a disease in which blood pressure readings exceed the norm. This disorder has several stages: mild, moderate and severe. In most cases, the pathology is hereditary. It can also develop due to stress, bad habits, excess salt in the body, obesity, neurogenic disorders, and due to the use of certain medications.

Impaired perception of auditory information, noise and pain in the ears and head, rapid heartbeat are the main signs of hypertension. During an attack, a dull and pressing headache occurs, a feeling of pulsation, the ears become blocked, vision becomes blurred, and the face becomes hyperemic.

Treatment of the disease is complex. It is impossible to get rid of the otological disorder without normalizing the pressure. Patients are prescribed vasodilators, sedatives and diuretics, vitamins and minerals. Particular attention is paid to prevention, which consists of physical activity, a balanced diet, psychological relief and giving up bad habits.

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Ear congestion after eardrum rupture

The eardrum is located at the end of the auditory canal, separating it from the tympanic cavity of the middle ear. The membrane consists of several parts and performs a protective function, preventing water, air, foreign objects and pathogens from entering the middle ear. It is also responsible for sound conduction. Sound vibrations from the eardrum are transmitted through the auditory ossicles to the sound-perceiving apparatus.

Damage to the eardrum occurs due to mechanical, physical, thermal or chemical factors. The pathological condition manifests itself as pain and congestion in the ear, a sensation of noise, and hearing loss. The severity of symptoms depends on the severity of the injury and the extent of damage. The danger is that injuries can cause its complete or partial destruction, rupture, or disruption of the integrity of individual structures.

If the ear is blocked after a slight damage to the eardrum, no special treatment is required. In more severe cases, ear drops, anti-inflammatory and other medications are prescribed. In case of a rupture, surgical treatment is performed - myringoplasty, tympanoplasty. Healthy hearing is restored as the eardrum heals.

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Ear congestion after nasal septum surgery

Otorhinolaryngological surgery is indicated for patients with curvature and trauma of the nasal septum. Surgical treatment is aimed at correcting deformations of bone and cartilage structures, restoring nasal breathing, and improving overall well-being.

Indications for nasal septum surgery include olfactory impairment, chronic sinusitis, otitis and eustachitis, frequent headaches, sleep problems, snoring, sleep apnea, bronchitis, and inflammatory diseases.

Many patients note that after the operation, ear congestion may occur. The painful condition is caused by swelling of the nasal mucosa and goes away on its own as nasal breathing is restored. If the obstruction of the auditory tube persists for a long period of time and is accompanied by painful sensations, then it is necessary to seek medical help. Since painful symptoms can be one of the complications of the operation.

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