Hearing is an important sensory organ, thanks to which a person forms a complete perception of the world. According to statistics, about a quarter of the world's population has problems associated with ears. Mostly people complain of noise, congestion and pressure. Often a person notices a number of concomitant symptoms, such as dizziness, nausea and migraine. But pressing pain in the ear is one of the main reasons for going to the ENT.
Types of pathologies
Of course, in any case, it is better not to self-medicate. The doctor will certainly tell you that he is pressing on the ears from the inside. But the reasons can be completely different. It all depends on the nature of the problem, because one phrase about congestion is not enough. In addition, each patient classifies this symptom differently.
Many patients report hearing impairment. Something seems to bother them. Ambient sounds in this case become more muffled. At the same time, only one side worries some, while others complain of complete congestion.
Some patients are worried that something is pressing on the ears from the inside and dizzy. Often this is also accompanied by a headache. As a rule, this condition is very painful. It seems that the skull is about to tear to pieces. This, at a minimum, causes not only discomfort, but also painful sensations of varying degrees. Often a person experiences nausea.
With such a problem, you can often encounter a wide variety of sounds in the head. This is noise, and buzz, and even a clock. But if some patients tolerate it calmly, then the situation is extremely annoying for others. The nervous state is clearly impaired. As a result, the patient stops sleeping, begins to respond inappropriately to standard situations.
One of the most striking symptoms is a headache. And she can just point out what is pressing on her ears from the inside. The reasons can be hidden completely in unexpected places, and a clearly described headache will allow the doctor to make the correct diagnosis. The pain can be localized from the temples to the back of the head, by its nature it is defined as dull or acute. Sometimes it can reach a critical level.
Hearing problems are often accompanied by impaired coordination. The patient may lose balance, be unable to control himself.
Also, ear diseases are distinguished by the fact that it is difficult for a person to tolerate bright light, loud sounds. Very often they are distorted, the patient hears nonexistent sounds. And it acts, as a rule, depressing.
If there is a whole complex of these symptoms, and they do not go away within a few days, then you must urgently consult a doctor.
Hypertension
Pressure on the ears can be caused by hypertension. This is one of the most likely causes of this problem.
Hypertension is an increased pressure in the vessels, hollow organs and cavities of the human body. This disease can provoke damage to blood vessels, organs of the circulatory system.
Pressive pain in the ear is one of the most striking symptoms of this disease. Others include nausea, headache, and loss of consciousness. But the main distinguishing feature is a persistent increase in blood pressure.
Increased intracranial pressure
This is another violation of the condition, which can affect what is pressing on the ears from the inside. The causes of increased intracranial pressure are very diverse. And often these are the most serious diseases - meningitis, encephalitis, malaria, tumors, abscess. Intracranial hypertension, as a rule, is not an independent problem, it more often acts as a symptom. And its pressure causes cerebrospinal fluid in the space between the brain and the skull, in the spinal canal.
Not only ear problems distinguish this symptom. Its signs are also impaired vision and psychological state of a person.
Migraine
Migraine is a disease transmitted predominantly genetically. The onset of the disease is provoked by irritating factors, such as bad habits, improper lifestyle or diet. Migraine is a neurological disease, accompanied by a sharp attack of a headache. Most often, it focuses in the orbital, frontal and temporal parts of the head. It is the localization of pain that is a fundamental symptom of migraine. The disease is accompanied by stuffiness in the ears, nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light and sound.
Cerebral arteriosclerosis
To eliminate the feeling that something is pressing on the ears from the inside, the causes need to be identified and preferably as early as possible. Perhaps the source of the problem is atherosclerosis. In addition to the symptom in question, this disease is characterized by memory impairment, decreased performance. A person becomes nervous and aggressive. Often such patients suffer from brain crises.
Otosclerosis
Pressure in the ears, of course, can talk about problems directly with this sensory organ. A disease such as otosclerosis characterizes progressive hearing impairment. It is most often provoked by a malfunction of the auditory ossicles located in the middle ear. The disease has a number of symptoms such as a hum in the head, impaired coordination of movements, and impaired hearing.
Neurinoma
If a person feels that something is pressing on his ears from the inside, a rumble in his ears, then this may be a neuroma. This is a tumor of a benign nature. Neuroma can be described as a neoplasm that occurs in the cellular structures that cover the nerve channels.
Neurinoma is in the form of a capsule or ball. A tumor is formed in the radicular part of the auditory nerve. Most often, its effect extends to the auditory apparatus and facial nerves. In addition to pressure in the ears, a sign of the presence of neurinoma is a violation of the sensitivity of the limbs.
Otitis
Otitis is distinguished by the fact that it can act both as an independent disease, and as a result of another disease transferred earlier. Particular attention should be paid to its treatment, since the disease can lead to even more serious complications.
This disease is an inflammatory process that occurs in the tympanic cavity, as well as in other parts of the middle ear. In this case, the mucous membrane of the organ is affected.
The disease has a number of striking symptoms: pressure on the ears, fever, sharp, almost unbearable pain. Purulent discharge is possible.
Dense sulfur plugs
Many face sudden stuffy ear. There is a feeling of the presence of cotton wool, which simply delays the sounds. Sulfur plugs are to blame.
The most common cause of their occurrence is inaccurate cleansing of the external auditory canal. In the process of sulfur accumulation, congestion is formed. And the accompanying symptoms of the problem are coughing and nausea. A person may feel pain, but it should not be particularly critical. If the patient has formed sulfur plugs, then congestion is characterized by the echo of his own voice in the head.
Vertebral artery syndrome
Otherwise, this disease is called cervical migraine. This is due to the fact that both diseases are characterized by acute, intolerable pain. The degree of pain is so high that a person darkens in his eyes. Cases of loss of consciousness are frequent. This, of course, affects the normal functioning of a person.
The syndrome is also caused by obstructed cerebral circulation. It arises due to insufficient vessel capacity. Their trauma leads to a spasm, which narrows the walls. Vertebral arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Its deficiency causes pressure on the ears.
Other reasons
There are still a huge number of factors contributing to this problem. The onset of a symptom can be caused by prolonged use of medications. These are most often antibiotics and ototoxic drugs.
Pressure on the ears can occur due to listening to loud music, constantly wearing headphones, long conversations on the phone. If the situation is not corrected in a timely manner, this can lead to significant hearing impairment.
Inflammatory processes can also be a fairly common cause of this phenomenon. A lump in the throat and pressure on the ears are satellites of the defeat of this interconnected group of organs. Symptoms are caused by infectious diseases.
The most sensitive to this process is the eardrum. It is this part of the ear that takes all the blow in the form of purulent discharge and fluids. They accumulate cause damage to the eardrum.
Problem treatment
Often a person is confronted with a stuffy ear. What to do? At home, you can only exacerbate the problem. In order not to lose hearing forever, it is better to consult a specialist. Having analyzed a number of symptoms, he will diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
A doctor using various research methods will check if there is an inflammatory process, damage to the eardrum or other diseases. The most modern diagnostic methods include:
- otoscopy;
- audiometry;
- tympanometry;
- radiography;
- MRI
- general blood analysis;
- blood pressure measurement.
Treatment, as a rule, consists of several stages. First of all, the patient should undergo a medical course consisting of antibiotics, vitamins, antispasmodic and general strengthening agents. Secondly, this problem cannot be eliminated without physiotherapeutic procedures. Their goal is to eliminate the main symptom - pressure on the ears.
Many are interested in the question, if the ear is blocked, what to do at home? But here it is better not to hesitate and immediately use the services of a doctor, as there are diseases that are very difficult to diagnose. Perhaps it is treatment at an early stage that will help to avoid serious problems in the future.
Preventative measures
A very large number of diseases is accompanied by this problem. Pressure on the ears is a concomitant symptom of various processes. And a person who has at least once encountered such a problem is trying by all means to avoid a repetition of the situation. Even for those who have never suffered from excessive pressure in the ears, it is useful to adhere to general rules. Of course, it is necessary to lead a correct lifestyle. Recommended as much physical activity as possible. A healthy diet can also not be ignored.
Avoiding bad habits, such as excessive alcohol consumption and smoking, will reduce the risk of diseases with this symptom. It is also worthwhile to prevent colds, because it often entails problems with the organs of this group. An important point is hygiene. Proper and gentle cleaning of the ear canals will help keep your ears healthy.
People prone to frequent earbuds should avoid deep sea diving and travel by air. And if you still had to fly, then at least you should not sleep on the plane.
Better to warn the problem in advance. But still it happens that something presses on the ears from the inside. Reasons and treatment will be prescribed only by the appropriate specialist. Do not self-medicate.