Ear pressure and sinus pressure are common conditions affecting the middle ear, eustachian tubes or the sinus cavities located in your head near the nose, eyes, cheeks and forehead. Pressure symptoms may arise for a variety of reasons, including inflammation, headache, blockages and infection. Treatments for these symptoms vary according to their underlying causes.
Ear Barotrauma
Abnormal ear pressure is a symptom of a condition called ear barotrauma, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus. This condition occurs when a blockage in the eustachian tube---which connects the middle ear to the back of the upper throat and nose---alters the relative air pressure on the inner and outer surfaces of your eardrum. Eustachian tube blockage, and subsequent barotrauma, most commonly occurs when you experience changes in altitude, such as those associated with air travel or scuba diving. You may also have an increased tendency toward barotrauma if you have nasal congestion. In some cases, barotrauma results from swelling in the throat or congenital defects in the eustachian tubes.
Sinusitis
Sinus pressure commonly occurs in association with sinusitis, a condition characterized by inflammation in the sinuses, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP. Potential causes of sinus inflammation include allergies, changes in air pressure or temperature, smoking, diving or swimming excessive use of nasal decongestants and the presence of growths called polyps. You may also develop sinusitis as a result of a viral or bacterial infection.
Colds and Flu
In addition to barotrauma, you may develop a eustachian tube blockage and alterations in normal ear pressure as a result of colds or flu, the AAFP reports. Signs of this form of ear pressure include a feeling of stuffiness or pressure that you cannot clear through swallowing, coughing or yawning. In some cases, you may also detect fluid buildup in the ear.
Sinus Headache
Inflammation in the sinuses can also trigger a condition called sinus headache, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. If you have a sinus headache you may experience abnormal pressure or pain limited to one particular area of your sinuses. You may also experience additional symptoms that include facial tenderness and pain that is worsened by sudden head movements or temperature changes. In some cases, the symptoms of a sinus headache are worst in the morning and ease throughout the day.
Treatments
In many cases, you can relieve discomfort associated with ear barotrauma by yawning, chewing gum, sucking on candy or exhaling gently while pinching your nose shut, Medline Plus explains. If your symptoms require medical treatment, options include decongestants, antihistamines, steroids and surgery. You can ease the pain of cold- or flu-related eustachian tube blockage with a warm heating pad, the AAFP notes. Potential treatments for sinusitis include decongestants, nonprescription pain relievers and antibiotics. The UMMC lists potential treatments for a sinus headache that include saline spray, humidifiers, steam inhalation, antibiotics, antihistamines, decongestants, nasal corticosteroids and surgery. The precise course of treatment for these ailments varies according to your particular circumstances.
