10 Causes of Ear Pain
Cause #5: Air Pressure
Air pressure or ear barotrauma occurs when there is discomfort or pain in the ear due to pressure differences in the outside and inside of the ear. The eustachian tube is a connection between the back of the nose or throat and middle ear. Swallowing or yawning will help to equalize the pressure on either side of the ear drum.
When it is blocked, the pressure in the middle ear is different than that on the outside and can result in barotrauma. This is often seen among those who encounter altitude changes such as driving in the mountains, flying, scuba diving, congestion, or an upper respiratory tract infection. Those affected will experience ear pain, dizziness, hearing loss, stuffiness in the ears, and nosebleeds.
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