When exercising, why do my ears feel clogged, and heavy breathing through the nose puts pressure on my inner ears? Does this affect my hearing in the long term?

Question

When exercising, why do my ears feel clogged, and heavy breathing through the nose puts pressure on my inner ears? Does this affect my hearing in the long term?

In: Biology

Answer 1

This may be ‘Patulous Eustachian’. Here are some quotes from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patulous_Eustachian_tube

Patulous Eustachian tube, also known as patent Eustachian tube, is the name of a rare physical disorder where the Eustachian tube, which is normally closed, instead stays intermittently open. When this occurs, the patient experiences autophony, the hearing of self-generated sounds. These sounds, such as one’s own breathing, voice, and heartbeat, vibrate directly onto the ear drum and can create a “bucket on the head” effect.

Patulous Eustachian tube is frequently misdiagnosed as standard congestion due to the similarity in symptoms and rarity of the disorder.

Activities and substances which dehydrate the body have the same effect and are also possible causes of patulous Eustachian tube. Examples are stimulants (including caffeine) and exercise. Exercise may have a more short-term effect than caffeine or weight loss in this regard.