Whether it’s due to a cold, allergies or infection, sinusitis and other sinus-related issues can cause significant ear pain and pressure. Luckily, certain methods and tricks will help relieve your discomfort.
A sinus infection, also called sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinus tissue. The causes of sinusitis vary—the infection could be viral, bacterial or fungus-related. The most common causes of sinusitis include the common cold, flu, and nasal and seasonal allergies. Viral sinusitis can stem from a cold, and buildup within your sinuses can lead to bacterial sinusitis. Fungal infections are most often seen in people with weakened immune systems and can be more severe and harder to fight.
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So, what are some sinus infection symptoms? With a sinus infection, you may experience:
Clogged ears and sinus pressure often go hand in hand, sharing a close connection due to their impact on the Eustachian tubes. These tubes, which link the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, regulate air pressure and drain fluids.
When sinuses are congested or inflamed, such as during sinusitis or allergies, they can block these tubes and disrupt their function. This blockage leads to symptoms like ear fullness, a sensation of pressure, or even mild discomfort.
Sinus pressure often accompanies or can contribute to ear infections, particularly when sinusitis affects the Eustachian tubes. These tubes connect the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, regulating pressure and draining fluids.
When sinuses become inflamed or congested—whether due to allergies, viruses, or bacteria—they can impair the Eustachian tubes' function. This may result in fluid buildup in the middle ear, creating conditions favorable for bacterial growth and leading to an ear infection (otitis media).
Sinus pressure can sometimes be associated with ear ringing, a condition known as tinnitus. Here’s how they can be connected:
Sinus pressure often results from inflammation or congestion in the sinuses, which are located around the nose and eyes. This inflammation can affect the Eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the throat and help regulate pressure. When the Eustachian tubes are affected by sinus congestion or inflammation, they may not function properly. This can lead to changes in pressure within the middle ear, affecting the fluid and air balance. In some cases, these changes can contribute to or exacerbate tinnitus, which is the perception of ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in the ears without an external source.
The connection between sinus pressure and tinnitus is often indirect but related to the overall impact of sinus congestion on the ear’s internal environment.
When you experience a popping sound in your ears due to sinus pressure, it's because the Eustachian tubes are opening briefly to equalize pressure. Sinus congestion or inflammation can interfere with these tubes, making it harder for them to function normally.
This causes the popping sensation, often relieved by activities like swallowing or yawning. Using nasal decongestants and saline sprays can help alleviate sinus pressure, potentially reducing ear popping. If symptoms persist or worsen, consulting a healthcare provider is advisable.
The connection between sinus and ear pressure is through the Eustachian tube. This tube links the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, helping regulate air pressure. When sinuses are inflamed or congested (sinusitis), it can affect the Eustachian tube's function, leading to ear pressure, fullness, and discomfort. Treating sinus issues can help alleviate these symptoms by reducing inflammation and improving Eustachian tube function.
The nose, ears and sinuses are interconnected. Sinusitis often leads to an ear infection; both can result from a viral or bacterial infection. With a sinus infection, fluid gets caught behind the eardrum, creating the perfect environment for viruses and bacteria to fester. And that’s how you can end up with an ear infection, too.
Even if your ears don’t become infected, you may also experience other issues because of this blockage behind the eardrums. As mentioned, ear pressure is a common symptom. That pressure, caused by buildup, can lead to dizziness, ringing in the ears and even temporary hearing loss.
Doctors connect a variety of circumstances, illnesses and conditions to ear congestion—including sinus pressure in ears or clogged ears. Here are a few of the most common causes.
With the interconnected nature of the body, sinus infections and issues can affect your ears. More specifically, the Eustachian tubes—the canals that connect the throat to the middle ear—get congested when you have a sinus infection. That buildup prevents the eustachian tubes’ usual, natural airflow, making it them unable to regulate the pressure in your ears. You may even experience sinus headaches.
Many sinus infection symptoms will go away with time. On very rare occasions, bacteria or fungi can spread elsewhere in your body, but most cases of sinusitis can go untreated by a doctor. To manage symptoms, you can use decongestants, over-the-counter cold and allergy medication and nasal saline rinses. Doctors also recommend drinking plenty of fluids during the healing period. If your symptoms don’t start to fade over time, check in with your doctor.
Ear infections, often caused by a cold, flu or allergies, have similar implications as sinusitis. They can also lead to buildup within the eustachian tubes. A middle ear infection can also cause dizziness, pain and fluid drainage.
Ear infection symptoms can fade over time without antibiotics, but the course of treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms. A standard ear infection can clear itself up within one to two weeks. However, young children may require and/or benefit from antibiotics or other ear infection treatments.
Seasonal allergies and allergic reactions can affect the function of your sinuses and ears. Histamine, the chemical within the body that attacks allergens, often creates congestion, swelling and excess mucus. All these things can irritate your ears, making them uncomfortable, itchy or painful.
You can treat allergies and related symptoms, such as ear congestion and ear pain, with relevant medication. Antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays can help your nose, sinus and ear passageways, resolving allergy ear pain and congestion.
While earwax is a natural part of the human body, it can be harmful if excessive. Overproduction of earwax can happen naturally, too. Certain people tend to produce more earwax, especially if they have a lot of ear hair or use hearing aids, earplugs or earbuds. Earwax buildup symptoms are earache, hearing loss, ringing in your ears (tinnitus), itchiness or dizziness.
Earwax buildup can get worse when people use cotton swabs. Often, that cotton swab will push earwax further into your ear canal, potentially causing damage to your eardrum. For earwax buildup removal , try dissolving it with saline solution, hydrogen peroxide ear drops or mineral oil. Put a few drops in the problem ear, then lay down on your opposite side. Ear irrigation—using a syringe of water or saline solution to rinse your ear out—can also help.
Sometimes water can get caught in your ear after showering or swimming. Fluid in your ear is not only uncomfortable, but it can also lead to infection if left long-term.
To release the fluid in your ear, lean your head to the side and pull on your earlobe. If that doesn’t work, lie on your side with the problem ear on a towel and let gravity do the rest. For extra assistance, try putting a hot compress on your ear or using hydrogen peroxide drops before lying down.
When traveling in an airplane, you may feel what’s known as “airplane ear.” This condition happens when your ears experience a significant change in pressure. When an airplane changes altitude upon take-off and landing, your ears change pressure. The air pressure in your ears must adjust to the pressure within your environment, leading to a “popping” feeling in your ears. This can result in muffled hearing, stuffiness in your ears, or pain and discomfort.
If you experience airplane ear, yawn or swallow during take-off and landing. Doing so will engage your muscles that open the Eustachian tubes. Sucking on hard candy or chewing gum can also stimulate these same muscles.
If you’re wondering what causes pressure in the ears, there are a range of less common conditions in addition to the well-known ones. Rare ear pressure causes include:
How you can relieve sinus pressure in your ears will depend on the cause of it, but these methods will help:
If you’re suffering from ear pain from a sinus infection, try some of these home remedies for ear pressure relief:
The best over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for sinus and ear pressure typically include:
To relieve sinus pressure in the ears through massage, you can follow these steps:
Pressure points can be used to help alleviate sinus congestion and ear discomfort. Here are some commonly recommended pressure points:
Facial sinuses:
Ears and eustachian tubes:
Have some questions regarding how sinusitis can affect your ears? Find your answers below.
Sinus and ear infections typically do not directly cause high blood pressure (hypertension). However, they can indirectly contribute to temporary increases in blood pressure under certain circumstances.
While most earaches resolve within a matter of days, long-term ear issues may require a medical consultation. If you’re looking for ways to relieve sinus pressure in your ears, over-the-counter medications can help mitigate the pain. But those who experience persistent fever—along with sinus pressure in ears, earache, fluid drainage, hearing loss or balance problems—should seek medical treatment, especially if they’re a child. You should also consult a doctor for other concerning symptoms, including serious headaches or significant pain in facial muscles.
