The eustachian tube runs between the nasopharynx and the ear, equalizing pressures between them. When a person has nasal or sinus problems, this leads to inflammation of the nasopharynx in the back of the nose, eventually causing a feeling of clogged ears. Additionally, tumors of the nasopharynx, which block the eustachian tube opening, prevent adequate ear drainage and ventilation, resulting in fluid behind the eardrum. The tissue that sits in the nasopharynx is called adenoid tissue. Adenoid tissue is present in children and tends to shrink during the late teen years and early twenties.
Large adenoids can lead to blockage of sinus drainage and sinus disease.
In the past, large adenoids were treated by radium, but this has led to increased cancer rates, and so today, large adenoids are surgically removed. Your nose does a lot more than just fill up the middle of your face. Its primary functions are respiration and smell. While respiration, or breathing, can be carried out via the mouth, it is the nose that is uniquely suited to this function. As air is drawn into the nose for ultimate passage to the lungs, it must be cleaned of the microscopic particles we inhale.