Do you suffer from hearing loss or earaches when your sinuses break out? It is not your imagination. There is a connection between the sinuses and the ears. If you suffer from sinusitis hearing problems, here is the information that should help you.
The Eustachian tube
The ears and throat are connected through the Eustachian tube. The nose and sinuses are also connected to the throat. If sinus infections travel through the nose and throat, they can reach the Eustachian tube and begin to affect your ears.
This is not as weird as you think. If you suffer from breakouts, you will have noticed how easily the infection can spread to your nose and throat. In fact, having a runny nose and a sore throat are two of the most common symptoms associated with an outbreak.
Eustachian tube infection
The body uses the Eustachian tube to equalize pressure inside and outside the ear. This is very important for the inner ear to do its job of processing sound, which is vibrations in the air. If an infection gets into this tube, it can become swollen and closed or blocked by mucus. This can lead to more problems because mucus, fluid, and even air inside the ears get trapped.
Middle ear infections
With mucus and fluids trapped in the middle or inner ear, the area becomes very favorable for bacterial growth. This can lead to middle ear infections that can sometimes cause hearing loss. Some people have complete hearing loss in at least one ear. This is temporary most of the time. However, fluid build-up and air pressure inside the middle ear can cause permanent damage. Due to the high pressures, the eardrums can rupture.
Solutions
If you suffer from sinusitis hearing problems, you will want to get to sinusitis first. The problem can usually go away without medical treatment, but if you don’t treat the outbreak that caused the ear infections, you may have repeated episodes of hearing problems.
To get to your sinus problem, you need to see your doctor to get a proper diagnosis of what you really have. If you can get to the cause, treatment should be much easier. Additionally, you can do some self-care techniques, such as drinking plenty of fluids and resting, to help your body repair itself and remove excess mucus that could cause blockages in your nose and throat.
If your ears start to hurt and you fear you may be suffering from an ear infection, it is best to see your doctor again. Again, most of the time the problem will go away on its own, especially if you’ve treated breakouts, but it’s always a good idea to be safe. Some middle ear infections require antibiotics and other medications because the area inside the middle ear has become very favorable for bacteria and bacterial growths are rampaging inside.
It is very important that you consult your doctor before attempting to remedy this type of ear problem. Also, don’t self-medicate if you don’t know the cause of the problem. Drug abuse can lead to more problems.
