South DFW News

• Eustachian tubes are connected to the sinuses.
• Symptoms of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) 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.

"Eustachian tube dysfunction is what happens when the eustachian tube that connects the back of the throat to the middle ear space doesn't work properly," Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told South DFW News. "So if patients who have significant sinus issues get sick, upper respiratory infections can adversely affect the way the eustachian tube functions, and that's often why people may get fluid in their middle ear space or they may get an ear infection."

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.

"I always tell patients, the interesting thing about ear problems is that most of those things that people complain about -- from stuffiness to decreased hearing because of an ear infection -- can be improved by improving sinus health," Trimble said. "I recently treated a friend of mine who has a long history of sinus problems, as well as ear issues. During a sinus procedure, we also dilated his eustachian tube to try to improve its function over time. That can also be very helpful as well. I also see a lot of people who tend to have muscle tension issues because of the sinus problems they are having, and that can also cause ear pain and pressure. We try to differentiate eustachian tube dysfunction from other causes, but the interesting thing is that it seems like everyone who has a better-functioning nose, who can breathe better through their nose, it seems like those issues ultimately will get better for those people."

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