It only takes some thick mucus, or a little bit of inflammation, to upset the delicate mechanism of the Eustachian tube. The ear drum has a very rich nerve supply and is incredibly sensitive (one of the reasons why ear infections are so painful), so it can detect very small pressure changes, giving rise to a feeling of blockage (and other symptoms) if the Eustachian tube isn't working perfectly. The Eustachian tube is usually closed, but each time you swallow or yawn, it temporarily opens and sends a little puff of air into the ear, keeping the pressures on each side of the eardrum the same. The Eustachian tube is, yes, a tube, that connects the air pocket to the very back of the nose. The way that the body deals with this is via the Eustachian tube. The air is continuously absorbed by the lining, generating a negative pressure. On the inside of the eardrum there is a small pocket of air. What is the Eustachian tube, and what does it do? There are many reasons why ears can feel blocked, but this article focusses on one of the most common causes of blocked ears - Eustachian tube dysfunction - and what can be done about it. This is often the case, however many of the patients I see have already been to see their GP who has examined their ears and told them it ‘looks normal’. Most people reasonably assume that is because their ears are blocked with wax. One of the most common reasons patients come to see me is because their ears feel blocked. BLOCKED EARS - EUSTACHIAN TUBE DYSFUNCTION (ETD)
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