Oh Jeong-yeon Says, "I Endured It for 30 Years, but It Was a Disease" ... Ears Felt Blocked Every Time She Spoke, and She Underwent Surgery for the Painful Condition [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Broadcaster Oh Jeong-yeon has revealed that she recently underwent surgery for Patulous Eustachian tube, a condition she had lived with for 30 years, drawing growing attention to the disorder. Singer and actor IU also recently canceled a scheduled concert and postponed an album release after the same condition worsened, making it one of the representative ENT disorders that trouble broadcasters and singers who rely heavily on their voices.
On the 19th, Oh Jeong-yeon shared a photo of herself in a hospital gown on social networking service and said, "I learned for the first time this year that there is a name for the chronic symptoms I have felt since high school." She added, "I thought I had to just endure the discomfort for 30 years, but after learning it was a disease, I found an expert and underwent surgery."
She added, "I also read an article saying that IU canceled her concert because of this, and I felt even more sorry because I know how difficult it becomes whenever I push myself too hard."

The Eustachian tube connects the back of the nose, or nasopharynx, to the middle ear. It helps equalize pressure in the middle ear with atmospheric pressure and serves as a passage for drainage. A normal Eustachian tube stays closed most of the time and opens only briefly when a person swallows or yawns to balance pressure.
Patulous Eustachian tube, however, is a condition in which the tube remains open all the time or fails to close properly.
When Patulous Eustachian tube develops, the first symptom is often autophony, in which one's own voice echoes loudly inside the ear or throughout the head. The resonance can feel as if someone is speaking into a microphone inside a cave. Each breath in and out may also bring harsh breathing sounds and a rush of air that feels as though it is striking the eardrum directly. Patients often experience a blocked, full sensation in the ear, as if water were trapped inside, along with distorted hearing and severe auditory fatigue. For people who speak a lot or sing, it can directly affect pitch control and vocal production.
The main causes include rapid dieting or weight loss due to illness. As the fatty tissue around the Eustachian tube decreases, the valve-like tube can no longer close properly. Other contributing factors include severe stress, chronic fatigue, dehydration, and sudden hormonal changes related to pregnancy or the use of birth control pills. Another characteristic sign is that symptoms may temporarily improve when a person bends forward or lies down, as blood flow shifts toward the head.
Treatment is tailored to the severity of the symptoms. In early or mild cases, improvement may be possible simply by stopping extreme weight loss, drinking enough water, and resting. Conservative treatment may also include placing saline in the nose to induce swelling of the mucous membrane. If symptoms persist, doctors may prescribe medicated sprays or consider procedures that inject fillers or fat into the opening of the Eustachian tube to narrow the gap. If the pain continues to the point that daily life becomes impossible despite these measures, surgical treatment may be performed, such as inserting a special tube into the Eustachian tube or closing and reconstructing the passage.
Medical experts said, "Many patients dismiss unusual symptoms such as a blocked ear or an echoing voice as simple tinnitus, rhinitis, or otitis media and leave them untreated." They added, "If treatment is delayed, quality of life can decline significantly, so if the symptoms recur, patients should visit an ENT specialist without delay for an accurate diagnosis and step-by-step treatment."
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter