Can an Earache Be Caused by Stress?

Having an earache is no picnic and even though most individuals experience them rather frequently as babies or toddlers, when adults get them they can tend to be somewhat unbearable. Any parent knows many little ones get them as a result of drinking bottles or Sippy cups while lying down and form other germs, but why would an adult get one? Can an Earache be caused by stress?

The answer to this question is yes, but not directly caused by stress. When a person is stressed they often engage in other habits to diffuse their stress levels which will result in causing themselves to obtain an earache. For example, if you happen to be in the midst of a stressful day then you tend to have problems sitting still. You result in tapping your feet, chewing on pens or pencils, chewing on gum for long periods of time, grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw. When you're stressed and you continuously engage in these nervous behaviors, you can begin to experience earaches or symptoms of TMJ from causing all the pressure in the jaw, facial muscles and most importantly the ears.

To avoid getting earaches caused by stress, take a look at your life at what changes you need to make to diffuse that stress. Engage in healthier habits to overcome it such as exercise, reading or even relaxing in front of the television for a little while to give your body and your mind a rest. There are several other situations that cause earaches and the stress you endure simply triggers it also. Swimmers who experience swimmers ear and pressure built up the ears also suffer from earaches as adults. To offset these infractions you must be use when engaging in water activities and wear the appropriate ear plugs to prevent the water from entering the ear canals. The beginning signs of an earache are pressure and tightness in the jaw muscles and even at times a headache. When you experience these warning signs you need to treat them right away and seek medical attention if they do not subside with any over the counter medications or home remedies.

Earaches are a nuisance and they can be expected to hang around from anywhere from an hour to days depending on what caused the earache. Try to sleep with your head higher than the rest of your body at all times by using two pillows if necessary to drain out the ears and keep other fluids and toxins from going into the ear canals and causing even more pressure and more pain inside the ears. If you suffer from TMJ which is a common disorder in which the jaw muscles are not allowing you to open your mouth the entire way or to chew foods without it making a cracking sound, then many times that is the root of your pain and not an earache caused by stress, making it worth your time to have your doctor evaluate the issue and find the best treatment options for you.