Pinellas Times

• 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. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free said trouble with your ears could be related to sinus issues.

"Eustachian tube dysfunction is a condition that leads to ear fullness, pressure, popping, and crackling—difficulty when equalizing on airplanes or going over to a high altitude. This condition is very common and really goes hand-in-hand with sinusitis and allergies," Dr. Pate told Pinellas Times. "It can be caused by many different problems, but many times it is due to sinus and allergies and is very closely related to those problems."

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 Tampa Bay Breathe Free's website, Dr. Pate, a certified otolaryngologist, started her academic journey by earning a Magna Cum Laude bachelor's degree from the University of Florida. She then obtained her medical degree from Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University, graduating in the top 5% of her class. Following this, she underwent an otolaryngology internship at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. She completed her otolaryngology residency at the same institution, where she held the position of chief resident.