If your ears won't pop you might have fluid in your ears. Thickened fluid blocks the auditory tube and prevents the fluid from draining into the back of the throat. Sometimes this is caused by an ear infection.
By swallowing water or another drink your ears will pop, equalizing the pressure. A more intense method to pop your ears by swallowing is to pinch your nose closed. This creates a vacuum in your nose that helps your Eustachian tubes open. Chewing gum during pressure changes is also a common way to pop your ears.
Internal causes, such as congestion, can induce a buildup of air or fluid in the eustachian tube in the ear. This buildup creates a feeling of pressure in the ears. The blockage to the eustachian tube may come from: earwax.
When the Eustachian tubes get blocked up with mucus, your ears will naturally feel like they need popping, given that this help regulates pressure between inside and outside the middle ear. This is a common side effect of a cold or allergy flare-up.
Swallowing or yawning opens the eustachian tube and allows air to flow into or out of the middle ear. This helps equalize pressure on either side of the ear drum. If the eustachian tube is blocked, the air pressure in the middle ear is different than the pressure on the outside of the eardrum.
Normally, the eustachian tubes open when you do things like swallow or yawn. This naturally equalizes the pressure in your middle ear. If the eustachian tubes become narrowed or blocked due to a disease or condition, you may feel ear pressure that doesn't go away naturally.
This can happen for brief periods during air travel, but also due to allergies, sinus or ear infections, or other respiratory viruses (including COVID-19). Sudden onset of muffled hearing in one ear may signal an urgent problem requiring prompt treatment to prevent or reduce possible hearing loss.
Symptoms of Eustachian tube dysfunction usually go away without treatment. You can do exercises to open up the tubes. This includes swallowing, yawning, or chewing gum. You can help relieve the “full ear” feeling by taking a deep breath, pinching your nostrils closed, and “blowing” with your mouth shut.
a ringing or buzzing sound in your ear (tinnitus) earache or ear pain. itching in your ear. clear fluid, blood or pus leaking from your ear.
Anything that leads to fluid buildup in the middle ear can make your ears feel plugged. The most common cause of this is middle ear infection, like acute otitis media. But fluid in the ear can also build up after the infection has passed. ETD usually causes otitis media.
An individual with ear fullness has a sensation of blockage in the ear. This can make hearing sound muffled or a person may experience crackling or popping noises in the ear. Ear congestion may last only a few seconds or up to a few days.
Eustachian tube massage
Using firm, steady pressure, slide your finger down until you feel a groove between your ear lobe and jaw. Trace that groove all the way down your neck to your collarbone using the same firm pressure. Repeat this process three times on each side, three times a day.
How long does a blocked ear last for? It all depends on the cause of the blockage, but generally, if it's caused by something as simple as water or air pressure, it should clear quickly. For more serious problems, such as infections, it can take a few weeks to return to normal.
A blocked ear due to congestion and middle ear pressure changes will, in most cases, clear up naturally as your sinus function, cold or flu resolves. If you are experiencing pain or fever or any other symptoms of concern, err on the side of caution and follow this up with your local GP.
To do this, just gently massage the outside of the ear using circular movements. That way, the impaction will soften, which can help the earwax drain more easily. Once you've finished making these circular movements, pull your ear slightly backwards, from the lobe to the top of the auricle.
A person who has ear pressure should see a doctor if they experience any of the following: persistent pain. no improvement in symptoms despite home treatment. hearing loss.
A feeling of pressure in the ear is often a first symptom. Ear pain and hearing loss may occur over time if the pressure difference badly damaged your ear. Some situations that cause ear barotrauma may also damage the lungs and sinuses.
Although ear pressure buildup is a common issue with many causes, there can be serious conditions that are causing this issue. If you're suffering from a serious condition, your doctor can work to treat the issue and alleviate the pressure in your ear.
Muffled hearing can occur in one or both ears. When the condition occurs in one ear, it's likely a sign of a single-sided ear infection, a clogged ear or earwax buildup. Muffled hearing due to sinus infections or changes in pressure while flying or changing altitudes typically occurs in both ears.
Sinus or ear infections, allergies and other respiratory viruses — all of which can cause swelling and fluid in the ear — are common causes of Eustachian tube dysfunction.
Untreated earwax buildup can lead to hearing loss, irritation, pain in your ear, dizziness, ringing in your ears and other issues.
If you have earwax buildup, certain ear drops can soften and loosen your earwax for easier removal. There are three types of softening drops for earwax: water-based, non-water-based and oil-based. If you have impacted earwax, a healthcare provider may recommend ear drops containing: Carbamide peroxide.