Although foreign to our ears, one part of the ear, the eustachian tubes, turns out to have quite an important role. The function of the Eustachian tube is apparently useful for equalizing pressure inside and outside the ear, and drying or releasing fluid from the middle ear, that is, the ear behind the eardrum. Despite having an important role, but some people often experience loss of function of the eustachian tubes due to blockages.
The function of the eustachian tubes is to connect the middle ear to the back of the throat. When you swallow or vaporize, this channel opens briefly to let air in, which makes the pressure in the middle ear and the pressure outside the ear the same.
Impaired Eustachian Canal Functions
Everybody has an eustachian channel. This channel is shaped like a tube that connects the space behind the eardrum in the middle ear with the back of the nose. In adults, the eustachian tubes are about 35 millimeters or 1.3 inches long and about 3 millimeters in diameter. You can't see it or feel it, because only ENT specialists can see this channel with the help of special tools.
Some small muscles located in the back of the throat and palate have the task of controlling the opening and closing of the eustachian tubes. If it were not for this eustachian tube function, the middle ear cavity would be an isolated air pocket inside the head. This will make it vulnerable to any changes in air pressure, and cause the function of the middle ear space becomes unhealthy.
Various conditions such as swelling due to fever, allergies, or sinus infections, apparently can prevent the eustachian tubes open and cause changes in pressure. Ear fluids become congested in the middle ear, the pressure and the fluid can also cause pain in the part of your ear. In fact, the function of the Eustachian tubes is to equalize the pressure inside and outside the ear, and to dry or release fluid from the middle ear.
Ear discharge that is not removed can cause infection or acute otitis media. Usually, young children are at higher risk and babies are more at risk of ear infections than adults. This is caused by the eustachian tubes in children which are shorter and more easily blocked. Other risk factors that can cause interference with the eustachian tubes include obesity and smoking.
Ear pain due to malfunctioning of the Eustachian canal can be caused by several things, for example a change in pressure when you get on an airplane, drive when going up or down a mountain, or dive.
Some of the symptoms caused by impaired functioning of the eustachian tubes include changes in hearing, pain, tingling in the ears, ringing in the ears, ears feeling full, and feeling a little dizzy.
Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) can of course cause muffled hearing in the affected ear. Eustachian tubes that are blocked can often heal on their own. Yawning and chewing gum can also help healing.
ETD usually heals frequently within a few days with home treatment or treatment using over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines, although the symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks. Treatment for this condition is adjusted according to the cause. If left untreated, long-term disruption of the eustachian tubes can cause chronic middle ear infections and otitis media effusion.
If you experience some of the symptoms described above, you may experience dysfunction of the eustachian tubes. If you experience it, immediately consult an ENT specialist to get the right treatment and treatment. Symptoms of eustachian tube disorders must be immediately examined if accompanied by pain or severe hearing loss, symptoms do not subside after treatment, symptoms do not improve within two weeks, fever, discharge or blood from the ear, or decreased consciousness.
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