With further descent, the eardrum may rupture, providing pain relief this rupture may cause vertigo and hearing loss. Further descent only intensifies the ear pain, which is soon followed by a serous fluid buildup and bleeding in the middle ear. Manifestationsĭivers who cannot equalize middle-ear pressure during descent will first feel discomfort in their ears (clogged or stuffed ears) that may progress to severe pain. Poor equalization techniques or too rapid descent may also contribute to the development of MEBT. Often the injury is serious enough that it causes rupture of the eardrum, tympanic membrane rupture or inner ear barotrauma.įactors that can contribute to the development of MEBT include the common cold, allergies or inflammation - conditions that can cause swelling and may block the Eustachian tubes. Eventually the eardrum may rupture this is likely to bring relief from the pain associated with MEBT, but it is an outcome to avoid if possible. At a certain point an active attempt to equalize will be futile, and a forceful Valsalva maneuver may injure the inner ear. It causes tissue to swell, the eardrum to bulge inward, leakage of fluid and bleeding of ruptured vessels. If the pressure in the tympanic cavity is lower than the pressure of the surrounding tissue, this imbalance results in negative pressure (a relative vacuum) in the middle-ear space. Various maneuvers, such as swallowing or yawning, can facilitate the process.Īn obstruction in the Eustachian tube can lead to an inability to achieve equalization, particularly during descent, when the pressure changes quickly. This equalization normally occurs with little or no effort. The Eustachian tube connects the throat with the tympanic cavity and provides passage for gas when pressure equalization is needed. The air pressure in the tympanic cavity - an air-filled space in the middle ear - must be equalized with the pressure of the surrounding environment.
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