5 Ways to Overcome Ear Pain After Diving
Monday 9 January 2023
Ear pain from diving is often experienced by someone at a depth of 14 feet or the first 4 meters. This condition usually occurs due to dives that are too fast and the pressure changes are much greater under the surface of the water than on land.
Apart from ear pain, there are several disturbances that can occur when diving, such as a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear, dizziness, and decreased hearing function.
If it lasts long enough without proper treatment or treatment, these symptoms can get worse, ranging from nosebleeds, vertigo, to discharge or blood from the ears.
How to Overcome Painful Ears from Diving
There are several ways you can do to relieve the symptoms of ear pain due to diving, namely:
1. Decompress
If your ears feel full or pressure when you dive, you should avoid diving deeper. Stop diving and stay in your position for a few minutes and perform decompression techniques.
You can do this by exhaling while covering your nose until you hear a 'clapping' sound in your ear.
2. Stop the dive
If the first method doesn't work, stop diving and slowly surface. You may stop several times to perform decompression techniques and pressure adjustments.
3. Ask fellow divers for help
When diving, it is recommended that you have fellow divers so they can help and supervise each other. That way, if you or any of your fellow divers experience ear pain from diving, someone can help surface and monitor the condition.
4. Don't panic
Complaints of ear barotrauma, including ear pain, confusion, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness, can make you feel anxious. Don't panic, though, as panicking can push you to the surface too quickly and trigger decompression sickness or something worse.
So, try to stay calm and let your partner know so they can help you climb slowly.
5. Clean and dry the ear
Arriving at the surface, immediately clean the ear and make sure the condition of the ear remains dry. Avoid getting any object or liquid into the ear.
To reduce complaints, there are several other simple things you can do, namely chewing gum, yawning, or taking a few deep breaths.
In mild cases, symptoms usually go away after you return to land or usually last only a few minutes after being treated. If symptoms last longer, you may need medical treatment.
Tips to Prevent Ear Pain When Diving
If you want to dive, here are some tips you can apply to protect your ears:
- Avoid wearing earplugs when diving.
- Lower your feet first and look up.
- Descend slowly while diving.
- Return to the surface slowly if your ears hurt, as continuing to dive could injure your ears.
- Avoid diving if you have a cold or recurring sinusitis symptoms.
Another way to maintain safety while diving and avoid the risk of ear pain is to take a diving class first.
In this class, you will be taught various techniques or how to use equipment according to diving needs, how to get down into the water properly, as well as how to clean your ears so you don't get injured.
Diving can be a great way to unwind from everyday activities. Do not let this actually cause disturbances, including ear pain, just because you are not careful when diving.
Most complaints of ear pain due to diving are mild and can heal on their own without special treatment.
However, if the pain does not go away within a few days or you experience decreased hearing, you should see a doctor so that proper treatment can be given to prevent various complications, such as ear infections, ruptured eardrums, vertigo, or hearing loss.