You may be unfamiliar with the term “Eustachian tube,” but you are probably very familiar with the sensation of your ears popping when you drive up a steep hill or take off in an airplane. That popping is the sound of your Eustachian tubes balancing air pressure. If you have a condition that causes your Eustachian tubes not to work correctly, it’s known as Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD).
What Are the Eustachian Tubes?
The Eustachian tubes connect your middle ear to the back of the throat. There’s a tube on each side of your head, one for each ear. They are able to open and close. They have three main functions:
- Drain fluid from the ear to the throat
- Equalize pressure between your environment and the inside of your head
- Protect the middle ear from germs
What Is Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?
If your Eustachian tubes become clogged or are unable to open and shut, that is ETD. This can affect anyone, but it’s significantly more common in children, since their Eustachian tubes are much smaller than adult Eustachian tubes, so they become clogged more easily.
What Are the Symptoms of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?
Some ways you can identify ETD are:
- Muffled hearing
- A feeling of fullness or stuffiness in your ear
- Frequent ear popping
- Ear pain
What Causes Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?
The most common way ETD occurs is when inflammation of the Eustachian tubes or an adjacent organ causes the tubes to close, resulting in pressure buildup and fluid accumulation. The most common causes include:
- Allergies
- Viral infections, such as the common cold, flu or COVID-19
- Upper respiratory infections
- Chronic acid reflux (GERD)
Can Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Be Treated?
In adults, ETD will often resolve on its own without medical intervention once the underlying cause clears up (e.g., once you get over the cold, the inflammation goes down and ETD will go away naturally). However, the ear popping and pressure can be uncomfortable, so here are some at-home remedies that can help alleviate ETD:
- Yawn
- Swallow
- Chew gum
- The Valsalva maneuver
If none of these are providing the relief you need, you can also try over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines to treat allergies, nasal sprays to assist with the backed-up drainage or mild pain relievers.
Some people, particularly children, with ETD need ear tubes, which provide ventilation to the middle ear and open up the Eustachian tubes. Our ENT specialists at Blue Ridge ENT are well-versed in this procedure. Please call today for more information. Find the relief you need from full ears.