North Richmond Today

Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers delivers customized ear, nose and throat solutions for patients’ sinus and allergy conditions.

Dr. John Ditto, an otolaryngologist at Richmond Breathe Free, can provide effective treatment for patients’ eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD).

When the eustachian tube’s lining becomes swollen, it no longer functions and the blocked eustachian tubes can cause pain, hearing difficulties and a feeling of fullness in the ear.

Dr. John Ditto | zocdoc.com

“Because the lining of the sinuses is the same lining as the lining in the eustachian tube, there’s that mucosa that is just as reactive to bacteria and inflammatory mediators as it is in the sinuses,” Ditto told North Richmond Today. “So when you have sinusitis, in fact, you can actually see the infected mucus traveling down the back of the nose over and across the eustachian tube opening.”

According to Healthline, eustachian tubes are small tubes that run between the middle ears behind the eardrum and the upper throat, and they are responsible for equalizing ear pressure and draining fluid. These tubes are typically closed, except for when people chew, swallow or yawn.

While ETD is a relatively common condition, severe or recurring cases may require a visit to the doctor, according to Healthline. Depending on the cause, the condition may also resolve on its own or through simple at-home measures.

Prospective patients may want to evaluate their symptoms through the Richmond Breathe Free sinus quiz to determine the right path for their needs.