It is a common, often uncomfortable, experience when ears feel blocked or “unpopped” during an illness. This sensation can be frustrating and distracting, making it difficult to hear clearly. Understanding why this happens provides insight into managing the discomfort.
How Your Ears Normally Equalize Pressure
The ear’s ability to equalize pressure relies on the Eustachian tubes, which are narrow passages connecting the middle ear to the back of the throat. These tubes are typically closed but open briefly when swallowing, yawning, or chewing. This opening allows small amounts of air to enter or exit the middle ear, balancing the air pressure inside with the pressure outside the body. This balance is important for the eardrum to vibrate properly, enabling clear hearing. The Eustachian tubes also help drain fluid and mucus from the middle ear into the throat, preventing infections.
Why Illness Causes Ear Pressure
When sick with a cold, flu, allergies, or a sinus infection, membranes lining the nasal passages and throat become inflamed and swollen. This inflammation and increased mucus production can extend to the Eustachian tubes. The swelling and mucus can block these tubes, preventing them from opening properly. When the tubes cannot open, middle ear air pressure cannot equalize with the outside environment. This pressure imbalance causes the familiar feeling of clogged or full ears, sometimes with muffled hearing or popping sensations.
Relieving Ear Pressure at Home
Several home remedies and techniques can help alleviate ear pressure when sick.
Yawning or swallowing can encourage the Eustachian tubes to open and equalize pressure. Chewing gum or sucking on hard candy can also stimulate swallowing.
The Valsalva maneuver involves taking a deep breath, pinching nostrils closed, and gently trying to exhale through the nose with the mouth closed. This creates pressure to help force the tubes open; perform gently to avoid injury.
Inhaling steam from hot water or a warm shower can loosen mucus and reduce nasal congestion, which may relieve ear pressure. Applying a warm compress to the ear can offer comfort.
Over-the-counter options like nasal decongestants or antihistamines may reduce swelling and mucus production, potentially clearing the Eustachian tubes.
When to Consult a Doctor
While ear pressure from illness often resolves as the underlying condition improves, medical consultation is advisable in specific instances. If ear pressure, pain, or muffled hearing persists for more than a few days after other cold symptoms subside, see a doctor. Severe ear pain, sudden hearing changes, dizziness, or any ear discharge warrant immediate medical attention.
These symptoms could indicate a middle ear infection, which develops when fluid trapped behind the eardrum becomes a breeding ground for bacteria or viruses. Untreated ear infections can lead to complications like eardrum perforation, temporary or permanent hearing loss, or infection spread to nearby areas. Consulting a healthcare professional ensures proper diagnosis and treatment, preventing potential long-term problems.