Barotrauma

Baro means pressure, thus, barotrauma of the ear refers to the discomfort and pain caused in the ear due to exertion of pressure difference . The Eustachian tube gets blocked in this scenario.

Ever experienced the blockage in the ear while travelling in an airplane or riding speedily down the lane? This is a small scale of barotrauma occurring to you due to the pressure changes.

Symptoms

Ear pain ranging from mild to severe
The jamming or blocked sensation in the ear
Pressure feeling
Nose bleeding
Hearing loss

Treatment

In mild cases, decongestants can be given to the patients. Although, you don’t even have to take any medications, if you got a barotrauma after trekking or a long drive.

You can treat this yourself by yawning, or doing breathing exercises. But, in severe cases where the pain is excruciating, the doctor will suggest a surgery for you, relieving you of the pain.

Prevention

This can be brought about by keeping the eustachian tubes open. If you are flustered by the ‘mumbling' sound in your ear whenever you take a flight or go diving or trekking. Few steps would act as your precautionary measures to avoid such an exasperating situation.

Take decongestants an hour earlier to your flight
Anti histamine also are a great drug to free you off this hassle.

Precautionary steps and proper care of the eustachian tubes, to avoid imbibition of the fluid, are to be ticked mark in keeping away the blockage to the ear, and thus, keeping away a barotrauma ear!