Barotrauma earache: ways to deal with plus tricks to prevent it from happening

Barotrauma is one of the health risks when diving or traveling by airplane. The ear is one of the organs that is very sensitive to changes in air or water pressure. This change in pressure then causes discomfort in the ear, or is called barotrauma ear pain. Then how to prevent and overcome it?

What causes barotrauma ear pain?

Barotrauma ear pain occurs due to changes in ambient air pressure. Normally, the ear organ called the Eustachian tube works to regulate the air pressure in the inner ear as much as possible to be more or less the same as the outside air pressure so that it won't cause problems.

New problems will arise when there is a very rapid and sudden change in pressure. For example, when you get on a plane. The more you move up in the air, the lower the ambient air pressure will be. It's the same as when you dive. The deeper you dive, the higher the water pressure.

The drastic changes in altitude and air pressure in a short period of time prevent your ears from adapting to equalize. The air pressure in the inner ear will be out of balance with the pressure outside. Then, the tympanic membrane or eardrum will swell.

It is this stretch of the eardrum that is affected by air pressure which causes ear pain when boarding an airplane or diving in water. During your time in the air or in water, the swollen eardrum cannot vibrate. Your hearing also feels clogged and sounds like muffled because the Eustachian tube is blocked by the air pressure.

Any condition that can block the Eustachian tube or limit its function can increase the risk of barotrauma. These conditions include:

• Eustachius are small, especially in infants and toddlers
• The common cold
• Sinus infection
• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
• Middle ear infection (otitis media)
• Sleep when the plane is taking off or landing, because you can't yawn or swallow, which can reduce pressure on the ears

What are the symptoms of barotrauma?

Apart from causing discomfort, barotrauma ear pain can also cause other symptoms such as:

• Difficulty hearing
• Dizzy
• Inside the ear feels full

In more severe cases, you may experience symptoms such as:

• Badly sick
• Increased pressure in the ear
• Moderate to severe hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Spinning sensation (vertigo)
• Bleeding from the ear

Do you have to go to the doctor immediately if your ear hurts?

In most cases, the symptoms of barotrauma ear pain go away on their own, so you don't have to rush to the doctor. However, you should be consulted immediately if:

• The pain persists or gets worse and keeps recurring
• The ears become watery because of the leakage of fluid
• There is bleeding from the ear

The doctor will check the condition of your ear and look for signs of damage or infection in both the eardrum and ear canal.

If the eardrum appears to be pushed in or out, this indicates that there is indeed ear barotrauma. After the examination, the doctor will discuss the most appropriate treatment options and next steps.

This condition usually does not require serious treatment. Rarely, long-term complications include:

• Permanent hearing loss
• Chronic tinnitus

How to treat ear barotrauma?

Most cases of ear barotrauma go away on their own without treatment, but if your symptoms don't go away, your doctor may suggest the following treatment options:

1. Medicines

Your doctor may recommend that you use a nasal decongestant or nasal antihistamine according to the instructions for use on the package.

In addition, you can take anti-inflammatory drugs, such as:

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve)
• Analgesic pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).

When you have earaches, keep your ears clean to prevent infection. If you also have an infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

2. Self therapy

Along with administering the medication, your doctor will recommend that you perform the Valsalva maneuver. The trick is to do the steps below:

• Cover your nostrils and mouth
• Gently, enter the air into the back of the nose, as if expelling fluid inside the nose

3. Operations

In severe cases of barotrauma, the doctor may recommend surgery. The operation is usually a small cylindrical tube attached to the middle ear to balance the pressure difference. However, these cases are rare.

How to prevent barotrauma ear pain?

Quoted by the Mayo Clinic, you can prevent barotrauma by taking the simple steps below:

1. Yawn and chew

Try yawning or chewing gum. This step can activate the muscles that open your eustachian tubes. Apart from chewing gum, you can also suck on candy and swallow it.

2. Perform the Valsalva maneuver

You can perform the Valsalva maneuver by the steps mentioned above. Repeat this step several times, especially when the plane is about to land. This is to equalize the pressure between your ears and the cabin of the aircraft.

3. Don't sleep

The preventive measure for barotrauma when traveling in air is not to sleep. Stay awake while doing the independent techniques mentioned, especially when you feel the pressure build up in your ears.

4. Reconsider travel plans

If possible, don't fly when you have a cold, sinus infection, nasal congestion, or ear infection. In addition, discuss with your doctor about the right time to travel, if you have recently had ear surgery.

5. Take decongestants

To prevent barotrauma in the ears, you should use a decongestant, antihistamine, or both before starting activities, such as scuba diving, diving, hiking, boarding a plane. Decongestants are available in the form of drinking or spray.

6. Use earplugs

The earplug can equalize the pressure on the eardrums when you are on an airplane. You can buy these at drugstores over the counter. Even so, you are still advised to do self-therapy, namely yawning and swallowing to reduce pressure.

To help your baby, provide a pacifier to suck on when the plane takes off or lands. Place your baby in a sitting position while doing this step.

Children over 4 years of age can try chewing gum, drinking with a straw, or blowing bubbles through a straw. Don't give your child decongestants.