Can you suffer from otitis media by plane?

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
Taking a plane has become a common means of transportation for travel or business trip, and more and more people have the experience of taking a plane; however, when some people take a plane, at some times, they feel stuffy or painful ears, and in serious cases, they may have tinnitus and hearing loss. Why is that

This condition occurs when flying or diving. It is called “air pressure traumatic otitis media” or “aviation otitis media” in medicine. The main reason is that in flight, when the eustachian tube ventilation function fails to adapt to the rapid change of environmental pressure, it leads to middle ear injury.

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
The human middle ear has an air cavity, and its physiological function can be fully exerted only when the air pressure inside and outside the cavity is balanced. The eustachian tube is the part connecting the middle ear and the pharynx. When the tympanic membrane is complete, it is the only channel to regulate the air pressure inside and outside the middle ear cavity.

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
Eustachian tube has the function of one-way piston: air in middle ear cavity is easy to escape, but outside air is not easy to enter. In general, the eustachian tube is usually closed, only when swallowing, yawning, shouting, jaw movement and head straight forward and so on, will it open, let the air into the middle ear, and keep the internal and external pressure in balance.

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
　　

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
The atmospheric pressure at high altitude is lower than the ground; when the aircraft takes off and rises to a certain height, the air pressure in the middle ear is higher than the external air pressure; the people sitting on the aircraft feel the ear bulge, and the tympanic membrane bulges outward. When the aircraft reaches 152m altitude, the reported pressure in the middle ear exceeds the tension of the eustachian tube soft tissue, part of the air rushes out of the tube, and the tympanic membrane resets. At this time, people will hear “rattling”. This change is repeated every 152m in the future.

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
When the aircraft descends, the atmospheric pressure gradually increases, but the air cannot enter the middle ear through the eustachian tube, resulting in the continuous increase of the relative negative pressure in the middle ear; if the eustachian tube function is normal, or the aircraft descends slowly, people can open the eustachian tube by swallowing and other methods, so that the external air can enter the middle ear, and balance the internal and external air pressure.

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
This is why it is recommended to swallow or eat something when taking off and landing. In addition to this method, the implementation of “valsar blowing method” can also balance the internal and external air pressure in the middle ear, relieve the discomfort symptoms and reduce the incidence of airborne otitis media.

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
The causes of ear discomfort are as follows:

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
1. Eustachian tube dysfunction, which is a common cause.

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
2. There is no swallowing or valsar blowing method when the aircraft height changes.

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
3. When the aircraft descent speed is too fast (over 152m / min), the general ventilation action is difficult to be effective.

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
In clinic, the trauma of middle ear caused by aircraft rising is very rare, while the trauma of middle ear caused by negative pressure when aircraft falling is common. There are three main symptoms of traumatic otitis media: earache, tinnitus and hearing loss (usually conductive).

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
In general, the lesions and hearing of acute pressure traumatic otitis media can be restored almost completely. The earlier the treatment is, the better the effect will be. However, if the acute pressure trauma is serious or multiple times, it will eventually lead to chronic lesions. The lesions of chronic pressure traumatic otitis media are not easy to cure. If the trauma is serious, the inner ear may be damaged, causing severe sensorineural hearing loss and poor prognosis.

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >
Jinghao hearing aid reminder: hearing aid wearing requires professional “matching”, so it is very important to choose a professional hearing aid matching center and a hearing aid tester! If you have any hearing problems, you can call Jinghao for consultation, or come to the matching center for experience. Hearing aid free consultation Tel.: + 86-18566295705

< P style = "color:; font family: Arial, Verdana, sans serif;" >