Richmond Leader

• Eustachian tubes are connected to the sinuses.
• Symptoms of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) are ear pain, hearing difficulties and a feeling of fullness in the ears.
• Common treatments for ETD include decongestants, antihistamines and balloon dilation.

According to Healthline, eustachian tubes are small tubes that run between the middle ears and the upper throat. They are responsible for equalizing ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear, the part of the ear behind the eardrum. The eustachian tubes are usually closed except during chewing, swallowing or yawning.

These passageways are small in size and can get plugged for a variety of reasons. Blocked eustachian tubes can cause pain, hearing difficulties and a feeling of fullness in the ears. Such a phenomenon is referred to as eustachian tube dysfunction. ETD is a relatively common condition. Depending on the cause, it may resolve on its own or through simple at-home treatment measures, such as chewing gum, yawning or using a saline nasal spray. Severe or recurring cases, however, may require a visit to the doctor.

"Because the lining of the sinuses is the same lining as the eustachian tube, that mucosa is just as reactive to bacteria and inflammatory mediators as it is in the sinuses," Dr. John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Richmond Leader. "So when you have sinusitis, in fact, you can actually see the infected mucus traveling down the back of the nose over and across the eustachian tube opening. And that then causes inflammation."

One possible treatment for ETD is balloon dilation, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This procedure is minimally invasive and relatively new. A study of 126 children who underwent balloon dilation to treat ETD found that there were no reported complications, and symptoms improved in 80% of patients.

Readers experiencing sinus issues are invited to take a Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz from Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.