If your ears feel stuffed up, it is most likely caused by inflammation or blockage of the eustachian tubes, which connect your middle ear to the back of the throat near your nasal passages. These tubes allow for drainage of fluids and regulate pressure in the middle ear, according to MedlinePlus. Excess fluid and pressure build-up can cause ear congestion and a sensation of stuffiness. You may also experience slight hearing loss and pain if pressure is severe.
Fluids and Steam
Congestion from a cold can block your eustachian tubes with mucus. You can increase your fluid intake to thin mucus and allow it to flow more effectively down the back of the throat or when you blow your nose. The University of Rhode Island suggests using steam to help loosen thick mucus and reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. You can sit in a closed bathroom with a hot shower running and the ventilation fan turned off to breath in the resulting steam. Or, fill a bowl with very hot water, using caution not to burn yourself, and inhale the steam as it rises from the bowl.
Manual Techniques
Relieving your ear congestion may be as simple as stretching the back of your throat to encourage the eustachian tubes to open. You may have heard of this technique as "popping" your ears. Yawning, swallowing, sucking on a lozenge or chewing gum are all effective ways to encourage movement in the back of your throat and possibly clear your ears of congestion. If congestion persists, try holding your nose and shutting your mouth while swallowing or while gently exhaling, suggests the Children's Mercy Hospital. This method will gently force pressure on the eustachian tubes, which may cause them to open up and relieve congestion.
Medications
If natural methods to relieve your ear congestion fail, it may be time to turn to common over-the-counter medications. Decongestants will relieve nasal congestion, which can allow the eustachian tubes to open and drain in the back of the nasal passages. If inflammation is a factor, try ibuprofen or naproxen sodium to reduce swelling of the nasal passages and eustachian tubes, suggests MedlinePlus.
