If you’ve ever experienced a feeling of pain or pressure in your ear, you know just how uncomfortable it can be. Perhaps it went away on its own, but if it has not, you may be wondering what could be causing this discomfort?
Today, your dedicated McAllen sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group of Valley ENT will present you with all the information you need on Eustachian tube dysfunction.
The Eustachian tubes run from the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. When functioning correctly, the tubes will open and allow air to flow through. Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) happens when the tubes will not open properly and in some cases, become blocked. This creates a feeling of pain and pressure in the ear.
There are many different causes of ETD, and for many sufferers, the risk of dealing with ETD increases if they are coping with other existing illnesses. Common causes of ETD include:
Everyone experiences different symptoms, and they can vary due to the severity of your case. Some of the most common symptoms you may experience with ETD include:
If you suspect you are suffering from ETD, it is always best to visit an ENT you can trust to confirm your diagnosis.
There are a wide variety of treatments you can try for ETD, and depending on the severity, it may go away on its own. If that does not happen, here are a few treatment options you can try:
If your symptoms worsen, you develop a fever, or have lost any amount of hearing, it is best to give your McAllen sinus relief specialists a call.
At Glatz Group of Valley ENT, our Physician Assistant (PA) Jonathan Lerma, is certified in treating Eustachian tube dysfunction.
There are many different ways Lerma can diagnose Eustachian tube dysfunction. The first being an exam of your eardrum while you breathe deeply and swallow. He will look at how the eardrum responds and make a diagnosis from that. The second way is by using a tympanometer to measure the pressure inside your ear.
Certified through Stryker, P.A. Lerma is trained in the treatment of Eustachian tube dysfunction. He will use a balloon dilation device to target the inflamed mucous and replace it with new, healthy mucous, relieving the pressure in your ear. This procedure has proven to be safe and effective for treating Eustachian tube dysfunction.
Eustachian tube dysfunction can have a variety of causes and treatments. At Glatz Group of Valley ENT, we are fully equipped to handle any case you bring our way!
Sinus infections can be hard to manage as you deal with congestion, nasal pain, and a sore throat. While many people use exercise in an attempt to clear their nasal passages, it also comes with the possibility of developing sinus headaches.
Your McAllen sinus specialists at the Glatz Group of Valley ENT will explain why individuals get sinus headaches when exercising and how sufferers can treat them.
A sinus headache is defined as a feeling of pressure around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead. Sinus headaches can be caused by an existing sinus infection, which happens when the tissue inside your sinus cavities becomes inflamed and swollen.
Sinus infections are common around the fall and winter months. As the air dries out, the body begins to work overtime fighting off the cold and flu viruses, leaving itself susceptible to other maladies.
While most don’t feel like exercising when they have a sinus infection, others do so in hopes that it will help them breathe better.
Often, exercise can help alleviate the symptoms of a sinus infection if done correctly. However, pushing too hard and vigorously exercising can cause a buildup of pressure around the nasal cavities and forehead, resulting in a sinus headache.
It’s important that you don’t do too much, too fast when exercising with a sinus infection. The best thing for you is rest, but if you feel the need to exercise, here are a couple of tips that may help:
It’s always in your best interest to warm-up before a workout, even more so when dealing with a sinus infection. Start with five minutes of low-intensity activity such as walking, cycling, or arm circles. This will increase your blood circulation and loosen your muscles.
A sinus infection can make it hard to breathe, and sometimes exercise can alleviate a stuffy nose. This happens when your increase in circulation clears the sinus pressure that has been built up. If you push too hard, however, the opposite effect could happen, and you are left with a sinus headache.
By starting light, you can see how far your body can be pushed, and if you feel relief from your symptoms, you can continue on.
Certain environmental factors can trigger your sinus infection and make it more difficult to work out. Whether it be outdoor pollen or dust inside a gym, pay attention to your symptoms wherever you are when working out.
You can make changes if necessary to avoid worsening symptoms.
If you’ve taken all the precautions and still end up with a sinus headache, there are a couple of things that you can do to find relief.
A couple of examples include:
These treatments are all temporary and if symptoms persist, it is highly recommended to see your ENT Specialist to figure out the source of the sinus issues. If your sinus symptoms worsen, you may want to consider a minimally invasive procedure we offer known as balloon sinuplasty.
It can feel like you’ll never get relief from your sinus infection and the sinus headaches that come with it.
You can rest easy knowing your friendly McAllen sinus doctor won’t stop until we get to the bottom of your sinus issues.
