The Dangers of “Ear Squeeze” and Diving

1. The Dangers of “Ear Squeeze” andDiving How to Protect Yourself If you have ever dived off the board into a swimming pool you probably recall that unpleasant sensation of blocked ears. This can range from annoying to downright painful, and even dangerous to the health and functioning of your ears. None of us want to risk long-term or even temporary hearing loss. And for people who dive on a regular basis, including members of a competitive college diving and swimming teams, to the avid scuba divers out there, “ear squeeze” (or diver’s ear) can become a chronic issue. Just think about the toll your poor ears would endure from diving and swimming under water, day in and day out. You would find

2. yourself constantly pressing on your ear drums and shaking your head, in a frustrating attempt to get water out of your ears so you can feel and hear better. Instead of hearing like you are still under water! Diver’s ear can really take the joy out of the sport. It can negatively impact performance among competitive swimmers, and worse yet, potentially cause ear damage to these young people who will rely on good hearing quality for many decades to come. Ear Squeeze Ear Squeeze is defined as the adverse effects of pressure changes in the middle-ear and inner-ear, which can occur in diving. This is due to the difference in pressures between the external environment and the inner-ear environment.

3. Ear Squeeze has also been referred to as Barotrauma, Aerotitis, Barotitis and Airplane Ear. The “squeezed” feeling can occur from not only diving, but also from flying, driving up a mountain, or even riding up an elevator. Common to all of these experiences is the rapid change in pressure. Symptoms and Signs of Ear Squeeze (Barotrauma) •Ear Pain •Fullness or Pressure/ Blocked Ear •Ear Ringing/ Tinnitus •Muffled Hearing/ Hearing Loss •Nausea or Vomiting •Dizziness/ Vertigo •Possible Discharge from the Ear, Nose or Mouth •Disorientation Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) The eustachian tube is a small connecting passageway between the back of the nose, throat and middle-ear and when it gets plugged it is called Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. This occurs when the tube becomes inflamed and mucous and fluid builds up. Common Causes of ETD: •A Cold •The Flu •A Sinus Infection •Allergies So needless to say, if a diver has blocked passages or ETD to begin with, the diving experience can compound and further aggravate

4. diver’s ear. It is important to reduce the risk by taking a proactive approach. An effective product called Pressureze Nasal Mist, quickly helps to open sinuses and ear canals. Protecting Yourself Against Ear Squeeze Below are some suggestions for safe diving, scuba diving in particular: •Wear ear plugs •Submerge using a descent line •Use of decompressions stops •Return slowly to the surface •Use blowing and swallowing techniques •Keep diving mask cleared •See your doctor for antibiotics if eardrum is ruptured •Proactive clearing of ear canals and sinuses using Pressureze Nasal Mist daily. Sometimes scuba divers will resort to motion-sickness drugs to dehydrate the eustachian tubes, but that can lead to dehydration of the entire body. This method may not be so healthy, as those medications can also cause additional side-effects. On the other hand, Pressureze Nasal Mist is an all-natural and preservative-free, which will not cause side effects, and is used by the Navy Seals and College Swim teams.