14 Causes of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
2. Obesity
Obesitycan cause eustachian tub dysfunction. An obese person may develop fatty deposits inside the eustachian pipes and around the ears. Fat deposits can block eustachian tube and prevent fluid draining. This can cause a buildup in pressure near the eardrum or inside the ear canal.
This can cause pain and increase the risk of infection. The fluid in the ears will continue to accumulate even if the infection is treated with pain medication and antibiotics. This is because the eustachian tube has been blocked by fat. Obese people can only treat this problem by losing weight. Surgery may be an option if weight loss isn’t possible or the patient wants to get relief sooner. Even after surgery, the fatty deposits may grow back to block the tubes.