WHAT CAUSES BLOCKAGE OF THE EUSTACHIAN TUBE?
The Eustachian tube is a very small narrow tube as thin as a pencil lead, which connects the back of the nose to the middle ear. This tube can easily get blocked by a number of reasons. The most common cause is cold and sinusitis. A nasal allergy or a throat infection can also cause this problem. Once the Eustachian tube is blocked the pressure in the middle ear cannot be equalized. This is because a vacuum is created which sucks the eardrum inward stretching it. This stretched eardrum cannot vibrate so hearing becomes hard and difficult. If this blockage continues, fluid will build up which causes more problems. WHY DOES AIR TRAVEL CAUSE THIS PROBLEM? When you are traveling by air the changes in the air pressure are rapid. In order to maintain the equal pressure on either side of the eardrum the Eustachian tube has to open often and wide enough. This is especially necessary while landing where you are going from a low atmospheric pressure to higher pressure on land. If for some reason
