Pressure in the ears can be caused by both ear pathology and other diseases not associated with damage to this organ. For a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to study the whole complex of complaints, objective data. Quite often, to study this symptom, instrumental and hardware techniques are required. It is also important to study the history of the disease and the presence of concomitant pathology. In some cases, it is the combined reasons that are the factors that cause the development of this pathology.
The most common causes when there is pressure in the ear are the following pathological conditions:
- ear diseases;
- increased blood pressure of any genesis;
- pathology of the vessels of the brain;
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
- tumor processes in the brain;
- sulfur plugs.
Pathology of ENT organs
Determine that the presence of this symptom is a pathology of the ENT organs, possibly by clarifying the presence of concomitant complaints. The most typical manifestation of the inflammatory process in the ear is the presence of pain, which can be of different nature and intensity. At the same time, patients can characterize it as a feeling of heaviness, pressing, shooting pain, etc. In some cases, it can only be unpleasant sensations in the ear, in others - a pain syndrome of such intensity that it deprives patients of sleep and forces them to cry out.
Most often, constant pressure in the ears is a consequence of the transferred otitis media, when the disease has taken on a chronic course.
The development of this symptomatology is due to a change in the structure and elasticity of the tympanic membrane. As a result of repeated purulent otitis media, accompanied by perforations of the tympanic membrane, it becomes thickened, covered with fibrous thickenings. In this case, there are not only unpleasant sensations in the ear, but also a decrease in hearing. The presence of these symptoms is explained by the fact that the transmission of sound in the tympanic cavity is difficult due to the development of the adhesive process.
Thus, the combination of hearing loss with a feeling of pressure in the ears is due to ear inflammation. The consultation with an otolaryngologist will help to clarify the diagnosis in a short time. In this case, expensive equipment or time-consuming and lengthy laboratory examination is not required.
An objective examination, including otoscopy, helps to clarify the diagnosis of otitis media.
The difficulties for an otolaryngologist are not in the diagnosis of pathology, but in the choice of treatment tactics, which implies both therapeutic measures and surgical treatment. Conservative treatment is aimed at improving the structure and functioning of the tympanic membrane. These measures include drugs and procedures that have a resorption effect and contribute to the conduction of a sound signal from the eardrum to the auditory nerve. An alternative approach may be surgery to reconstruct or replace the damaged tympanic membrane.
Another reason, when it presses on the ears from the inside, is the formation of sulfur plugs. A distinctive feature of this condition is the absence of additional symptoms. The general condition of the patients is not disturbed, there is no pain in the ear. Hearing loss may occur if there is a tight plug. Finding the cause of this condition is possible through visual inspection.
As for the implementation of therapeutic measures to eliminate this cause, it is recommended that they be carried out by an otolaryngologist in a specialized office. After washing out the ear plug, the condition quickly returns to normal. If there are predisposing factors for the formation of ear plugs in the form of a tortuous and narrow external auditory canal, it is possible to use prophylactic drops (A-Cerumen, Remo Wax, Audi spray).
Arterial hypertension
The feeling of pressure in the ears is typical for pathological conditions characterized by increased pressure, such as hypertension, atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis.
The main symptom of these diseases is the development of arterial hypertension. Additional symptoms in this case are headache, flashing "flies" before the eyes, pain in the heart, nausea. The presence of these signs creates the need for consultation with a therapist and cardiologist. Determination of high blood pressure, auscultatory data, detected changes on the ECG explain why it is pressing on the ears.
Therapeutic measures aimed at lowering pressure can quickly normalize the situation. These can be various groups of drugs, including, depending on the nature of hypertension, vascular drugs, calcium antagonists, beta-blockers, diuretics.
If arterial hypertension is detected, it is necessary to undergo the entire range of examinations required in this case. Since high blood pressure can be a sign of pathology of the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, endocrine system, then clarifying the diagnosis is an important condition for the correct treatment. In this case, the use of antihypertensive drugs should be combined with the use of funds aimed directly at the cause that caused the development of this pathology.
Tumors
The presence of a tumor of the auditory nerve or brain is also accompanied by a symptom when there is a sensation
pressure in the ears. Additional signs, depending on the localization of the process, may be tinnitus, wobbly gait, nausea, vomiting, loss of vision, hearing, etc. To clarify this pathology, you will need to consult a neurologist. In this case, the examination includes the study of both vascular pathology and is aimed at detecting volumetric formations. Thanks to the availability of hardware techniques, computed and magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, there are real opportunities for determining the localization of tumor or vascular formations.
Osteochondrosis
Often, the development of this symptom is also due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. This insidious disease is capable of masking a variety of pathologies. In addition, quite often it can accompany another pathology, increasing the symptomatology. Having found a change in this section of the spinal column during X-ray examination, one should not neglect additional examinations in search of another, more dangerous pathology. At the same time, massage of the collar zone, physiotherapy procedures, as well as treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, will help to improve the situation.
If it presses behind the ears, what kind of pathology is this depends on each specific case. There are a sufficient number of conditions characterized by this symptomatology. Since most often this symptom is not the only one, it is necessary to collect all accompanying signs. In this case, pay attention to
- blood pressure level;
- pain and heaviness in the region of the heart, under the scapula, behind the sternum;
- shortness of breath at rest or during exertion;
- headache, its nature, intensity;
- dizziness, lack of coordination;
- nausea, vomiting, their connection or absence with food intake;
- the presence of edema under the eyes, on the legs;
- impairment of hearing or sound perception.
Due to the fact that this symptom can characterize a serious pathology, in order to clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to contact the nearest clinic and undergo all the necessary examinations.
