The eustachian tubes, which are tiny tubes that connect the middle ear to the upper throat and are normally closed except when chewing, swallowing, or yawning, are in charge of balancing ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear, the portion of the ear behind the eardrum.
The condition known as eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is caused when these tiny passageways become blocked for a variety of reasons.
Symptoms
ETD symptoms may consist of:
- fullness in the ears
- experiencing “plugged” ears
- changes to hearing
- Tinnitus, another name for ringing in the ears
- clicking or popping sounds
- ears that feel itchy
- pain
The initial cause of ETD determines how long the symptoms last; symptoms brought on by altitude changes, for example, may go away once you return to your normal altitude, whereas illnesses and other causes of ETD may cause longer-lasting symptoms.
Causes
The most frequent causes of ETD include allergies and illnesses like the common cold, which can lead to eustachian tube inflammation or mucus buildup.
In addition to causing problems with your eyes, altitude changes can also affect your ears.
- hiking
- traveling through mountains
- flying on a plane
- riding an elevator
Risk factors
Although ETD can occur in anyone occasionally, some people are more susceptible to it.
- Fat deposits could build up around the eustachian tubes as a result of obesity, which could increase your risk.
- Smoking increases the likelihood of mucus becoming stuck by harming the middle ear’s cilia, which serve as protective hairs.
- Allergy sufferers are at higher risk because they may produce more mucus and have more congestion.
Children are more susceptible to ETD due to their smaller eustachian tubes, which increases the likelihood that mucus and germs will become trapped, as well as their increased susceptibility to infections and more frequent colds due to their immature immune systems.
Diagnosis
After asking about any pain, hearing changes, or other symptoms you may be having, the doctor will perform a physical exam to determine if you have ETD. Next, the doctor will carefully check the ear canal and the passages into the nose and throat.
When the eustachian tubes have abnormal patency, which is a condition in which they frequently open on their own, ETD may occasionally be mistaken for other ear conditions.
Prevention
Even if they aren’t brought on by an illness, minor symptoms may be treated at home with the following remedies:
- Chewing gum
- swallowing
- yawning
- closing one’s mouth and nostrils while exhaling
- clearing the nasal passages with a saline nasal spray
Complications
- middle ear infection also referred to as chronic otitis media.
- A buildup of fluid in the middle ear known as otitis media with effusion, also known as “glue ear,” may last for a few weeks, but more serious cases can result in irreversible hearing loss.
- The eardrum appears to be drawn further back into the canal during eardrum retraction.
HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT
Kali Mur – For Eustachian Tube Blockage Due to Chronic Ear Catarrh
Eustachian tube blockage caused by chronic middle ear catarrh can be successfully treated with Kali Mur. In such cases, there is a plugged sensation in the ears as well as deafness, along with this sensation being accompanied by snapping and popping sounds in the ear.
Pulsatilla – Blockage When Accompanied by a Severe Earache
A history of ear infection with the discharge of yellow, thick pus are other symptoms indicating the use of Pulsatilla. Other features are noises in the ear like wind or rushing water, and itching deep inside the ears. Pulsatilla is a suitable treatment for Eustachian tube blockage when the condition is accompanied by a severe earache that gets worse at night, a blockage of the ear with difficulty hearing, and these symptoms.
Hydrastis – Blockage With Marked Dullness of Hearing
When there is a Eustachian tube blockage, hydrastis is a recommended treatment. Hearing dullness is one of the symptoms, along with postnasal drip, hawking of thick yellow mucus from the throat, and an ear discharge that is thick, unpleasant, and irritating.
Merc Sol – Blockage With Marked Tinnitus
When tinnitus is present, Merc Sol is primarily helpful for blocked Eustachian tubes.
Kali Bichrome And Silicea – Other Effective Medicines for Eustachian Tube Blockage
Other effective treatments for Eustachian tube blockage include Kali Bichrome and Silicea. Kali Bichrome is effective in cases of blocked Eustachian tubes caused by chronic sinusitis; thick, stringy postnasal discharge with blocked Eustachian tubes is indicative of using Kali Bichrome. Silicea is to be used in cases of Eustachian tube blockage when a chronic history of pus-filled ear discharge is present; the ear feels blocked, and hiss
Gelsemium – Blockage When Accompanied by Vertigo and Dizziness
There is vertigo, dizziness, or a lightheaded feeling also occur in some cases, and vertigo is worse while walking. A sudden head movement may also cause dizziness.e.t.c. There is catarrh of the ear, earache, deafness, and blocked Eustachian tubes. Gelsemium is a good choice when vertigo accompanying Eustachian tube blockage.
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