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Drgrafenbergmd's avatar

Are the Eustachian tubes the key to curing some types of Asthma?

Asked by Drgrafenbergmd (382 points ) February 19th, 2010

I cant explain how I remember this, but when I was in primary school, a teacher mentioned that her father was in surgery and accidentally had some tubes in his nose area cut. She said that this “cured” his asthma (I believe it she said asthma and not just a breathing difficulty) and he never suffered from it again. Could those tubes she mentioned be the Eustachian tubes as I saw in another question?

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14 Answers

Val123's avatar

Eustachian tubes are in your ears, not your nose.

marinelife's avatar

I don’t see how asthma could be treated by opening the Eustachian tubes. It could be that chronic infections or chronic allergic reactions were involved.

Here is everything you ever wanted to know about Eustachian tubes.

Val123's avatar

@marinelife That was exciting!!

Drgrafenbergmd's avatar

Seriously guys, I did look them up, but its a weird memory, and I was wondering what tube would be cut to “cure” breathing problems. Not gonna make you look up stuff for me.

Pazza's avatar

I have trouble with un-popping my ears because my tubes don’t open properly to regulate the pressure in my inner ear, which I think is the primary function of the eustachian tubes.
I could have grommets put in, but the risks of infection are not worth the hassel. Plus I could end up chockin on the buggers in the middle of the night!......

Cutting the tubes would cause you some serious trouble I think.

Val123's avatar

Asthma is caused by irritations, not “breathing problems.”

Drgrafenbergmd's avatar

I wonder what they cut… apparently they didn’t even know at the time…

Harp's avatar

It’s worth noting that spontaneous remission from asthma is not at all uncommon, even in adulthood. Asthma is also highly susceptible to psychosomatic factors. I’m skeptical that there would be a direct causal relationship between the cutting of anything in the nasal region and hypersensitivity in the lungs.

hug_of_war's avatar

Eustachian tubes=ear infections

lloydbird's avatar

Good question.
I wonder what you would make of the implications of The Buteyko Method with regards to your enquiry.

Val123's avatar

@hug_of_war Ear infections will make you forget you have asthma.

CyanoticWasp's avatar

If you grow some hair purposefully under your ears, would that be a Euastache? Or is that just neck hair gone all wonky?

Trillian's avatar

@CyanoticWasp You are a funny man.
@Drgrafenbergmd As I unuderstand it, asthma is a reactive airway disease. The passages in the lungs get swollen and inflamed. This causes difficulty with the passing of air. I don’t see any connection between that and the Eustachian tubes, which connect the ear to the throat. But then, lots of things elude me, this may just be another of those. I guess there would be no chance of tracking that teacher down and finding out what the surgery was?

PhiNotPi's avatar

The eyes are connected to the nose by the tear ducts. I don’t see how cutting these would cure asthma. I would think that this would cause more problems.

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