What causes blocked ears and Eustachian tubes?
The Eustachian tube can be blocked, or obstructed, for a variety of reasons. When that occurs, no air can be replenished into the middle ear. The air already there absorbs and a vacuum occurs, sucking the eardrum inward. Such an eardrum cannot vibrate naturally, so hearing sounds muffled or blocked. Also, the stretching of the eardrum can be painful. If the tube remains blocked for a period of time, fluid (like blood serum) will seep into the ear from the membranes in an attempt to fill up the ear to overcome the vacuum. This is called “fluid in the ear,” serous otitis or baro-otitis. The most common cause for blocked Eustachian tube is the common “cold.” Sinus infections and nasal allergies (hay fever, etc.) are also frequently causes. This is because the membranes that line the Eustachian tube are similar to and continuous with nasal membranes. Consequently, a stuffy nose leads to stuffy ears because the swollen membranes block the opening of the Eustachian tube. Another cause of blo
