"I Spent Hellish Days and Nights"... IU Cancels Concert and Delays Album Release as Chronic Condition Worsens [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Singer and actress IU has canceled her Goyang concert, scheduled for September, and postponed the release of her sixth full-length album after her chronic patulous Eustachian tube condition worsened.
IU said on the fan platform Berriz on the 20th that her long-standing patulous Eustachian tube symptoms have been getting worse. She added that the symptoms have continued day and night over the past few days, making it difficult to regain her condition while singing, and that she decided to adjust her schedule on the advice of specialists.
EDAM Entertainment also said it decided to adjust the artist's planned schedule for this year with her health as the top priority. IU previously revealed the pain caused by the condition in a 2022 documentary, saying, "I spent hellish days because of an ear problem."
Patulous Eustachian tube syndrome, known to be especially debilitating for singers who must be highly sensitive to sound, refers to a condition in which the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear and the back of the nose, remains abnormally open instead of closing properly.

When the Eustachian tube stays open, sounds and pressure generated inside the body are transmitted directly to the middle ear, causing a range of unusual symptoms. The most common is autophony, in which a person's own voice or breathing sounds excessively loud, as if inside a large echo chamber. People may also feel as if their ears are full of water or blocked, similar to the sensation during a flight.
It is especially devastating for singers and broadcasters who rely on their voices. Because their own voice echoes too strongly in the ear, it becomes difficult to produce accurate tone and pitch. If these symptoms continue day and night, they can lead to sleep disorders and severe anxiety, and in serious cases may worsen into mental health conditions such as depression.
Patulous Eustachian tube syndrome occurs when the fatty tissue or muscles surrounding the Eustachian tube shrink, or when pressure inside the body changes.
The most common cause is rapid weight loss. When body fat drops suddenly because of extreme dieting, the fatty tissue supporting the area around the Eustachian tube decreases, preventing the tube from closing properly. Excessive exercise or dehydration caused by heavy sweating can also dry out the Eustachian tube lining and worsen symptoms.
Other possible triggers include vocal habits that place frequent, strong pressure on the vocal cords and head and neck area, as singers often do, as well as hormonal changes from pregnancy or birth control pills, chronic fatigue, and accumulated stress.

Because congenital factors and multiple causes can be involved, there is no single sure way to prevent the condition. However, symptoms can be greatly eased through proper hydration and careful management of physical condition in daily life.
First, it is important to drink enough water regularly so the Eustachian tube lining does not become dry. On the other hand, caffeine drinks and alcohol, which promote diuresis and drain body fluids, should be reduced. Sudden weight changes should also be avoided, and a healthy weight should be maintained. Since fatigue and stress can weaken the tube's ability to regulate pressure, adequate sleep and rest are essential.
Experts advise that if symptoms such as ear fullness or hearing one's own voice echoing persist for more than a week, patients should immediately visit an Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) clinic for Eustachian tube function testing. They added that it is important to receive an accurate diagnosis early and combine lifestyle changes with medication.
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter