Eustachian tubes are responsible for equalizing ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear. | Pexels/Rio Kuncoro
Eustachian tubes are responsible for equalizing ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear. | Pexels/Rio Kuncoro
- Eustachian tubes are small tubes that run between your middle ears and upper throat.
- Blocked eustachian tubes can cause pain, hearing difficulties and a feeling of fullness in the ears.
- One possible treatment for eustachian tube dysfunction is balloon dilation.
"Eustachian tube dysfunction is dysfunction of the tube that expands from the middle ear to the back of the nose. Its function is to drain and equalize pressure behind the eardrum, so that sound transmission is normal," Ditto told the Richmond Leader. "That tube, the lining inside of it has the same lining that's in your nose. So when you get a cold, your ear feels full. That is eustachian tube dysfunction because that lining in there is swollen. It's just a tube with lining that becomes swollen, and it doesn't function. The symptoms are fullness, pressure and sometimes people have pain."
Sinus infections can cause blockages in the eustachian tube, which can cause temporary hearing loss or the sensation of being "underwater" or wearing earplugs.
The eustachian tubes are usually closed, except when you chew, swallow or yawn, according to Healthline. Eustachian tubes are also responsible for equalizing ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear behind the eardrum.
Since eustachian tubes are small, they can get blocked easily, leading to eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), which is common and often can heal on its own or with home remedies, such as chewing gum, yawning or using a saline nasal spray.
In more severe cases, however, a visit to the doctor may be needed. One treatment for ETD is balloon dilation, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The procedure is relatively new and is minimally invasive. A study of 126 children who underwent the procedure found that there were no reported complications, and symptoms improved in 80% of cases.
If you're interested in learning more about ETD or sinusitis symptoms, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
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