High ambient interstellar pressure is suggested as a possible factor to explain the ubiquitous ob-served growth-rate discrepancy for supernova-driven super bubbles and stellar wind bubbles. Pressures of P / k ~ 105 cm-3 K are plausible for regions with high star formation rates, and these values are intermediate between the estimated Galactic mid-plane pressure and those observed in starburst galaxies. High-pressure components also are commonly seen in Galactic ISM localizations. We demonstrate the sensitivity of shell growth to the ambient pressure, and suggest that super bubbles ultimately might serve as ISM barometers.