What Causes Severe Pressure In The Ears And Nose While Having Anxiety?

Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I know how anxiety provoking it can be to have a symptom that is ongoing and where you don't know what it is! But this one is not one that is terribly serious.

The middle ear is connected to the throat via the eustachian tube. When there is anything going on in the sinuses/nose/throat, that causes some drainage down the throat, it can causes pressure changes in the eustachian tube and some fluid in the middle ear. If the fluid is infected with bacteria and infects the ear drum, it is called otitis media, which is what we usually call an ear infection. This causes a lot of pain and usually a fever too.

When the fluid is clear it is called serous otitis. There can be little bubbles which can be seen when looking in the ear and even a fluid level can sometimes be seen. All of this causes crackling, popping, and pressure. It can wax and wane as you described as the fluid drains down the eustachian tube.

The cause is usually a cold with prolonged post nasal drainage, a sinus infection, or allergies. All of these can cause drainage down the throat.

Given that it has gone on for a couple of months, I recommend you go in to see your doctor (and not a physicians assistant of nurse practitioner) to have a look, just to make sure there isn't an ear infection. Most likely there is not.

Given the symptoms in your nose, that is the best place to start to relieve your ears. Consider using an over the counter nasal steroid. These can decrease swelling in the nasal passages and sinuses and stabilize the mucus membranes so that aren't inflamed and producing drainage. It will take a few days for it to start to work maximally in your sinuses, and a bit longer for it to start to help your ears.

If you have a history of allergies, try to minimize your exposures, such as having pets sleep outside of your bedroom, using dust mite bedding protectors, having someone else dust on a regular basis, etc.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.

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