Eustachian tube dysfunction & air pressure in ear Posted: 03-18-07 03:42am
For the last four months my right ear has
been plugging up with pressure (feels like
the airplane ear) and I always have to do
the jaw motion (hollow swallow) to try to
open it again. Now I'm starting to feel a
little bit of pain in my right ear from
constantly trying to relieve the
pressure...
I've seen an ear/nose/throat doctor three
months ago, he examined my both of my
ears, and said that they are both OK and
that there are no problems with them
whatsoever. He said that the reason my
ears might be plugging up is because I
lost a lot of weight really quickly (about
20lbs) and that my ear channels have
remained bigger but my body grew smaller,
thus causing pressure in my ears. But I
have been gaining my weight back, I'm
about 142lbs now and I was 154lbs when I
started losing weight.
I have been using Nasonex for the last two
weeks but with no luck. Any idea what
might be going on? I don't even remember
when was the last time my right ear was
NORMAL. Thanks for your help.
|
DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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Ear, Nose & Throat Disorders Answer A2503 Posted: 03-26-07 04:13am
The middle ear is connected to the outer
ear via the Eustachian tube. The
Eustachian tube connects the middle ear
with the pharynx, and through pharynx
makes contact with the outside air. This
means that the air pressure outside the
body and the air pressure inside the
middle ear are equal. Equal air pressure
is very important for the normal function
of the eardrum. the Eustachian tube opens
whenever you make a jaw movement.
Sometimes, when the pharynx is inflamed
(usually because of infection), the
Eustachian tube gets stacked due to the
swelling of the surrounding tissue. Then,
trapped air in the middle ear starts to be
absorbed by the mucosa lining and air
pressure drops. Because the Eustachian
tube is obstructed, air can’t enter the
middle ear to equalize the pressure.
Decreased ear pressure in the middle ear
causes a vacuum and the secretion of
serous liquid in the middle ear from its
mucosal lining. That’s why you feel
pressure in your ear and decreased hearing
on that ear. An Obstructed Eustachian
tube due to inflammation is called a
"catarrh" of the Eustachian tube.
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