Have you felt dizzy lately, with a slight ringing in your ears or feeling full?
Please don't be worried . You are not alone in this, as people commonly experience it at some point. This phenomenon is due to changes in air pressure. When air pressure changes, such as climbing up a mountain or flying in an airplane, the pressure inside and outside ear canals becomes unbalanced. This can cause the eardrum to fluctuate inward and outward motion, often giving an eerie sensation of pressure. In some cases, this sensation might even suggest a sign of a medical condition or infection. As explained by the best ENT doctors, this shift in pressure which causes pain in the ear, is called Ear barotrauma. The middle ear is an air-filled space. The middle ear is formed from the eardrum and bone. It is linked to the back of the nose via a tunnel known as the eustachian tube. The pressure in the middle ear is kept constant by outside air passing through the Eustachian tube. Pain or ear squeeze occurs when the eustachian tube malfunctions and there is a pressure difference across the eardrum. Make sure you book an appointment with the doctor if the pain is overbearing. But if not, here are some tips that can help you quickly relieve pressure in your ears. Yawning is one of the easiest methods to help reduce the stress on your ears. Swallowing hard can help equalize the pressure inside and outside. Chewing gum or sucking on sweets can also help normalize ear pressure as the jaw movements tend to straighten them out. Drinking fluids can also help stabilize air pressure in your ears. Some other home remedies include steam in the shower and rinsing your nasal passage with a saline solution.
Doctors recommend avoiding sudden changes in ear pressure. Such as when flying or diving underwater. These can cause severe ear damage. It's always best to consult an ENT specialist when experiencing extreme ear pressure. It can cause discomfort and pain, as well as hearing difficulties. Ear barotrauma usually goes away on its own, but some people may need to see a doctor and, in extreme cases, have corrective surgery.
An ENT doctor may recommend surgery in cases of chronic or severe ear barotrauma. It is possible to implant small coils, known as ear tubes, into the ear using specific surgical treatment. Ear tube placement surgery is often used in children with hearing loss caused by recurring infections or ongoing liquid collection in the middle ear.
However, this method is rarely used to treat ear barotrauma. Ear barotrauma can occasionally result in a ruptured eardrum, also known as tympanic membrane perforation. If this occurs, the ear may not heal entirely for several months. A ruptured eardrum can usually heal on its own, but doctors can surgically repair the ear drums if this is not the case. Most cases do not require much medical attention. But if you are experiencing more severe pain that persists for a more extended period, it's always recommended to consult a doctor. Fortunately for you at Al Adwani general hospital, we have one of the best ENT doctors in the Taif, Makkah region in Saudi Arabia.
