NE Valley Times

When defending women’s skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold won gold in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, an inflammation of the sinus almost set her back. 

Affected by a middle ear disorder which impeded her season, she began her second run with a mediocre start, though a strong slide brought her back to second. By the fourth run, she had established a significant new track record, making her the first double Olympic champion in the history of the sport and the first multiple woman medalist. 

With the onset of her problems coming from an ear disorder, eustachian tube dysfunction could be a likely cause. According to Healthline, eustachian tubes are the small tubes that run between your middle ears and the upper throat. They are responsible for equalizing ear pressure and draining fluid from the middle ear, the part of the ear behind the eardrum and act essentially as the ventilation or draining tubes of the ears.

While constant actions throughout the day such as chewing, swallowing and yawning cause these tubes to open and close naturally, many people aren’t aware this is happening. 

Yarnold's sinus issues were caused by an inner ear issue.

“Most people never feel the pressure build up, they never feel the pressure release, they don't really think about their ears,” said Dr. Brian Lee of the Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center. “Now with eustachian tube dysfunction, that tube just is not working properly, it's usually swollen or inflamed. And what happens is that it doesn't open and pressure starts to build up to the ears.”

This leads many patients to experience symptoms of  fullness in the ears, ear pressure and slightly muffled hearing alongside an inflammation of the sinuses. 

With the eustachian tubes draining out the back of the nose, anything that inflames the sinuses could be allergies. 

“Chronic sinus issues, (a) simple cold, any of those things can cause inflammation around the eustachian tube to cause it to plug up as well,” Lee added.

According to MayoClinic, acute sinusitis is mostly caused by the common cold, with most cases resolving within a week to 10 days unless a bacterial infection develops. Though home remedies may be all that is needed to treat acute sinusitis, an infection that lasts more than 12 weeks despite medical treatment would be classified as chronic sinusitis. 

Concerned patients may evaluate the severity of their symptoms online through the Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center sinus quiz.