Ear congestion is caused by several factors, including sinusitis, allergies, and ear wax impaction. Natural remedies and some over-the-counter medications help treat sinusitis and ear congestion.
Feeling of fullness in the ears refers to ear congestion while swelling or inflammation in the lining of your sinuses is called sinusitis. These ear problems cause clogged or blocked sensation in your ear that can lead to dizziness, ear pain, and hearing difficulties.
In this article, you will learn how sinusitis and other ear congestion harm your hearing and what you can do to treat them.
What is Sinusitis (Sinus Infection)?
Sinuses Are specific structures filled with air and present inside your mouth. These are four paired cavities connected by narrow passages in your nose. These drainages help keep your nose clean, and free of germs, allergens, and bacteria. Different types of bacterial or viral infections and allergies irritate sinuses. As a result, the sinuses get filled with fluid and blocked. This condition leads to nasal congestion, pressure and pain in your face and other problems related to hearing and balance.
Types of Sinusitis
Sinusitis is classified into different types:
- Acute Sinusitis.
- Subacute Sinusitis.
- Chronic or Recurrent Sinusitis.
Acute Sinusitis: Its symptoms last for three to four weeks and include decreased sense of smell, nasal drainage, nasal congestion, and facial pressure or pain. Its causative agent is the virus-like the common cold.
Subacute Sinusitis: Its symptoms are similar to acute but they last for 10 to 12 weeks maximum.
Chronic Sinusitis: Its causative agent is bacteria and symptoms last for at least 12 to 14 weeks.
Recurrent Acute Sinusitis: Its symptoms usually come back three to four times a year and last for one to two weeks.
Sinusitis is also categorized based on what pathogen causing it, bacteria, viruses, or fungus.
Viral and Bacterial Sinusitis
Most Of the cases of sinusitis are caused by viruses like the common cold. Sometimes, bacteria also infect your ear after a viral infection. A runny or stuffy nose with severe facial pain that won’t go off after a week, indicates that you might have bacterial sinusitis. Its symptoms sometimes seem to improve but then return back in worse condition than the initial symptoms. Decongestants and antibiotics are used to treat such infections.
Fungal Sinusitis
This is a more serious form of ear sinusitis than other forms. Its major causative agent is a fungus. It usually occurs when you have a weakened immune system.
Symptoms of Sinusitis
Common signs of sinusitis include:
- Fever.
- Ear pain or pressure.
- Headache.
- Post Nasal drip.
- Pain or pressure in your teeth.
- Stuffy nose.
- Runny nose with thick green or yellow mucus.
- Tiredness.
- Cough.
- Bad taste in your mouth.
- Bad breath.
Causes of Sinus Infection
Common cruises of sinus infection are allergens, viruses, fungi, and bacteria. Specific triggers for the infection also include:
- Seasonal and nasal allergies.
- Influenza.
- The common cold.
- Moraxella catarrhalis bacteria.
- Haemophilus influenzae bacteria.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.
Risk Factors for Sinusitis
Common risk factors for sinus infection include:
- Smoking.
- Asthma.
- A weakened immune system.
- Nasal allergies.
- Nasal polyps.
- Deviated septum.
Treatment of Sinusitis
Many treatment options are available for sinusitis but you have to choose the one depending on your symptoms and how long you’ve had them. Some home remedies also help treat sinus infections, such as:
- Using Decongestants.
- Drinking plenty of fluids.
- Nasal saline rinses.
- Using over-the-counter allergy and cold medications.
- If symptoms do not get better after a week, your healthcare provider may prescribe:
- Intranasal steroid sprays.
- Antibiotics.
- Topical or oral decongestants.
Sinuses -Related Ear Congestion
Inflammation or congestion in the sims also causes congestion in the ear. Some common examples of conditions that cause sinus infection include:
- Structural abnormalities.
- Allergies.
- Viral or bacterial sinus infections.
- Sinusitis (inflammation in the tissues of the lining of sinuses).
- Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Infections, such as cold or flu.
Treatment
Sinus-related ear congestion has various treatments, which depend on many underlying causes. Most of such infections get recovered independently without any medication. However, if you experience the symptoms of bacterial sinus infection, your healthcare provider may prescribe some antibiotics. In addition, if your ear infection is caused by a viral infection, such as a cold or flu, this may go away when the underlying condition or cause of swelling resolves. However, if the cause of your sinus-related ear congestion is the fluid-filled in your middle ear, the congestion may linger after the active infection, until the fluid clears.
Such type of ear congestion can be relieved by avoiding irritants and allergens that trigger the symptoms.
In addition, to manage the symptoms of ear congestion or sinus condition, you can:
- Use decongestants or saline nasal sprays.
- Perform nasal irrigation.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to relieve swelling or pain.
- Place a warm, wet towel over your forehead or nose.
- Use a vaporizer or humidifier.
Allergies
Nasal allergies are also known as Rhinitis. They occur when your immune system overreacts to the pathogens or allergens present in the environment, including pet dander, pollen, or dust. According to a 2018 study, rhinitis allergy also affects your ear. Allergic rhinitis causes:
- Difficulty hearing.
- The pressure inside the ear.
- Ear popping.
- More symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:
- Severe headache.
- Sneezing.
- Itchy nose, throat, and mouth.
- Difficulty breathing through my nose.
- Run or stuffy nose.
- Watery, itchy eyes.
Treatment
Ear congestion caused by allergies or allergic rhinitis can be cured by using allergy-relieving medications, such as antihistamines and decongestants. According to research, you can follow some treatment options to relieve the allergic rhinitis, including:
- Nasal irrigation.
- Acupuncture.
- Butterbur herbal supplements.
In addition, several studies also suggested that some probiotics like pine bark extract or honey can be helpful in the treatment of the condition. However, more research is needed to prove the authenticity of this recommendation because current studies have provided weak or conflicting evidence to support the efficacy.
Elevation Changes
Ear popping is a result of elevation changes. This may occur because there is a big air pressure difference between the inside of the Eustachian tubes of the ear and the outside of the ear. The Eustachian tubes connect your upper throat and nasal cavity to your middle ear. These narrow canals sometimes experience differences in air pressure. This difference in air pressure inside and outside the ear causes hearing problems. The difference in air pressure usually happens during deep-sea diving, traveling to lower or higher altitudes, or air traveling.
Treatment
Elevation changes cause ear congestion, which can be treated by:
- Using over-the-counter decongestant sprays.
- Chewing gum during landing or taking off.
- Wearing filtered earbuds that can balance the air pressure.
However, the easiest and most effective remedy to save yourself from elevation changes is, descending or ascending slowly to allow the Eustachian tubes some more time to equalize the pressure in your middle ear. You can also try to perform the Toynbee maneuvers and Valsalva.
Toynbee Maneuver
- Pinch your nose closed. Close your mouth.
- Try to swallow.
- You can also try to swallow a mouthful of water.
Valsalva Maneuver
- Take a deep breath.
- Pinch your nose close.
- Blow the air out of your nose, gently, but keep the mouth closed.
However, healthcare providers strictly recommend that you should be cautious when performing the Valsalva maneuver because it can cause a rupture of your eardrum.
Earwax Buildup
Your ear canal produces a waxy substance, which is known as earwax or Cerumen. The presence of a small amount of earwax in your ear is beneficial because it protects your ear canal and prevents things from entering your ear. However, excessive amounts of earwax can cause ear infections like cerumen infection. Common symptoms of having excess earwax or cerumen impaction, include:
- Ear discomfort.
- Ear infection.
- Itching in my ear.
- Difficulty hearing.
- Ear drainage.
- Dizziness.
- A feeling of fullness in the ear.
- Earache.
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear).
You can also remove excess ear wax at home by the following tips but remember you can do this if your eardrum is healthy and intact.
Using Olive Oil or Almond Oil
According to research, putting two or three drops of olive oil or almond oil in your ear, twice a day for a week can help remove excess earwax. After one week, the earwax would fall out of the ear and it usually happens when you are lying down to sleep.
Irrigation
You can seek medical assistance from your healthcare provider to perform irrigation so that they can remove excess earwax from your ear. This procedure can be done at home easily.
Hydrogen Peroxide Ear Drops
These ear drops are effective for removing excess ear wax from your ear. However, when using ear drops, it is important to follow the instructions of your doctor and put just four to five drops at a time. You have to do this minimum for a week.
Unsafe Treatments
Ear candling-like procedures can be probed unsafe for your ear health because this is an ineffective treatment option and also can cause injury in your ear canal.
Ear Infections
Ear infections are the major cause of ear congestion. When any fungal, bacterial, or viral infection develops in your middle ear, an infection appears. This infection leads to fluid accumulation in Eustachian tubes and inflammation in ear canals. Fluid buildup results in a feeling of congestion or fullness in the ear. Ear infections can affect anyone but children are more affected than elders. Symptoms of ear infection include:
- Difficulty hearing.
- Fever.
- Earache.
- Headache.
- Loss of balance.
- Dizziness.
Treatment
Most ear infections resolve on their own, without using medication. However, if the ear infection has affected your middle ear, you may need antibiotics. Ear infections heal faster by drinking plenty of clear fluids, and taking rest. You can also take OTC like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve fevers and pains.
Sometimes, healthcare providers use topical anti-fungal medications to treat ear infections. Often they use a small vacuum to remove fungi. This procedure is medically known as ear aspiration.
Meniere’s Disease
This is an inner ear disease that is characterized by severe vertigo or dizziness, ear congestion, and tinnitus. Its symptoms get worse when the fluid buildup in the labyrinth of the inner ear. Semicircular canals if the ear composes the labyrinth which helps regulate balance in your body. It also has a special part, “cochlea”, that belongs to hearing.
However the exact cause of Meniere’s disease is still not confirmed by the researchers. However, some studies suggest that this disorder occurs in the result of:
- Genetic problems.
- Infections.
- Autoimmune conditions.
- Allergies.
Treatment
Meniere’s disease often, cannot be treated with prescription drugs, including:
- Diuretics.
- Lorazepam.
- Meclizine.
- Gentamicin injections.
- Diazepam.
However, some alternative treatments are available, such as:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Air pressure treatment.
- Surgery to decompress the endolymphatic sac inside your inner ear.
- Limiting salt intake.
- Avoid alcohol, chocolate, and caffeine intake.
Other Causes of Ear Congestion
More causes of ear congestion include:
Temporomandibular Joint Problems: TMJ is a wide range of ear pro disorders that affect the joints present in the jaws that help in opening and closing the mouth. Teeth grinding, abnormal jaw alignment, and injury can cause TMJ disorders.
Acoustic Neuroma: The development of noncancerous tumors on the nerves in the inner ear is another cause of ear congestion.
Cholesteatoma: This is the development of a benign tumor that disappears as aggressive skin growth develops behind the eardrum.
Conclusion
Sinusitis and Ear Congestion are not very dangerous illnesses but they can disturb your daily life activities. Bacterial, fungal, or viral infections usually cause such infections which cause ear congestion or sinus-related ear disorders. These ear problems can be treated at home by taking plenty of rest, drinking clear fluids like water and fresh juices, and taking over-the-counter medications.
However, if your symptoms do not get resolved and sinusitis symptoms get worse day by day, you should talk to your healthcare provider and tell them that your symptoms persist despite using at-home or OTC treatments. They may prescribe some more treatment options that can relieve the symptoms of pain and fever.
