Gateway Reporter

• Eustachian tubes are connected to the sinuses.
• Symptoms of eustachian tube dysfunction include ear pain, hearing difficulties and a feeling of fullness in the ears.
• Treatment options for ETD include antihistamines, decongestants 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 may require a visit to the doctor.

"Because it (the eustachian tube) opens into the back of the nasal passages, when there is inflammation in our nasal passages from a bacterial infection, from significant allergies, from what's called a chemical rhinitis when the nose is inflamed from, say, inhaling fumes or cigarette smoke or such, the eustachian tube gets inflamed and it doesn't function as well, so it can lead to increased pressure feeling in the patient's ears. It can lead to fluid buildup in their middle ears as well," Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Gateway Reporter.

One possible treatment for ETD is balloon dilation, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This procedure is minimally invasive and relatively new, having been approved by the FDA in 2005. 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 Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.