SW Dallas News

• Eustachian tubes are slender tubes connecting the middle ears to the upper throat.
• They play a role in balancing ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear, which is situated behind the eardrum.
• If you're suffering from ear troubles, it could be a result of eustachian tube dysfunction, caused by sinusitis.

If you're dealing with ear pain, trouble hearing, or the feeling of your ears being clogged, you might be dealing with eustachian tube dysfunction. Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free said your ear problems could improve with sinus treatment.

"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. Trimble told SW Dallas News. "So, if patients that 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. 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 with improving sinus health."

Eustachian tubes are narrow passages that can become obstructed for various reasons, according to Healthline. When these tubes are blocked, it can result in pain, hearing challenges, and a sensation of fullness in the ears, a condition known as eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD).

ETD can arise from allergies, a typical cold, influenza, or chronic acid reflux. Symptoms may intensify during altitude changes, such as on an airplane or during scuba diving, according to Cleveland Clinic. While ETD often resolves spontaneously, if symptoms persist for more than two weeks, seeking advice from a doctor is advisable. At-home remedies for addressing ETD may involve chewing gum, yawning, swallowing, or using a saline nasal spray.

Cleveland Clinic reported that in cases where at-home remedies or medications prove ineffective for addressing ETD, a physician may suggest an in office procedure. One available option is eustachian tuboplasty, also referred to as eustachian tube balloon dilation. This relatively recent procedure entails the insertion of a small balloon through the nasal passage into the eustachian tube, followed by inflation. The balloon is maintained in an inflated state for approximately two minutes before being deflated and removed by the doctor. Typically, patients recover from this surgery within one day or so.

According to Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Center's website, Dr. Monty Trimble is board-certified in otolaryngology. He earned his bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Texas A&M University and his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Trimble completed his residency training in otolaryngology (head and neck surgery) at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics.