Have you ever been on a plane and suddenly felt your ears pop and hurt? Or if you were a deep sea diver, did you feel a tightness in your chest or a strange feeling in your stomach? The cause of these things can be a sudden change in the air pressure or water pressure around our bodies. In medicine, this discomfort that occurs when our body cannot adapt to this change quickly is called barotrauma .
Simply put, what is Barotrauma?
Think about it, we have air-filled cavities inside our bodies. For example, in the middle ear, sinus cavities, lungs, stomach, and intestines. Normally, the air pressure inside these cavities is equal to the air pressure in the environment outside our bodies.
But when we go up in an airplane or dive deep underwater, the pressure in the outside environment changes suddenly. At this time, if the pressure in the air sacs inside our body cannot quickly balance with that change in external pressure, those air sacs can be damaged. That's why pain and discomfort occur. This is simply called Barotrauma.
Main types of barotrauma and their symptoms
Barotrauma can affect different parts of the body. The symptoms vary depending on where it is affected. Let's look at the main types and the symptoms associated with them.
| Type of barotrauma | Affected body part and common symptoms |
|---|---|
| Barotrauma affecting the ears (Ear Barotrauma) (Also called Airplane Ear) | This is the most commonly seen type.
|
| Barotrauma affecting the sinus cavities (Sinus Barotrauma) | This also happens commonly to divers.
|
| Gastrointestinal Barotrauma | It can be caused by swallowing air when diving in deep water.
|
| Barotrauma affecting the lungs (Pulmonary Barotrauma) | This is a very serious condition that can occur during deep water diving.
|
How does a doctor diagnose a barotrauma condition?
When you go to see a doctor, he will first ask you about your symptoms. He will also ask you if you have recently flown or dived, etc. to get an idea of the condition. After that, he may do various tests depending on the part of the body that is affected.
- For the ears: An otoscope is used to check for damage to the eardrum. If necessary, a hearing test or MRI scan may be performed.
- For sinuses: The nose will be examined. You may also have an endoscopy, which involves inserting a camera into the nose, or a CT scan.
- For the digestive system: If there is suspicion of intestinal perforation, a chest X-ray or CT scan will be performed.
- For the lungs: A chest X-ray, EKG test, and arterial blood gas test may be done.
What are the treatments for this?
Treatment depends on the type of barotrauma and its severity.
- Ear and sinus barotrauma: These often resolve on their own within a few days. Simple things like nasal decongestants can provide relief.
- Gastrointestinal Barotrauma: This usually does not require any special treatment, but in severe cases, such as a perforation of the stomach or intestines, surgery may be necessary.
- Pulmonary Barotrauma: This is a serious condition that requires hospitalization and treatment. Intensive care treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy and saline may be required.
When should you seek immediate medical advice?
If the symptoms of barotrauma to the ears or sinuses do not improve within a few days or if they worsen, be sure to see your doctor .
However, some situations are very dangerous. These are emergencies that can even be life-threatening.
If you have the following symptoms, go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately without delay:
* Sudden, severe stomach pain after deep diving (this may be a sign of intestinal perforation).
* Chest pain or difficulty breathing after deep diving (this may be a sign of lung damage).
How to protect yourself from barotrauma?
The good news is that most of the time we can protect ourselves from this situation.
- During flights: You can equalize the pressure in your ears by chewing gum, yawning frequently, drinking water, or pinching your nose and blowing out your mouth (Valsalva maneuver) as the plane takes off and lands. You can also buy special earplugs at pharmacies for this purpose.
- When diving underwater: Never dive into deep water without proper training. It is essential to follow correct and safe diving techniques. Learn how to balance pressure while diving. Seek advice from reputable institutions that provide training for this.
As you can see, barotrauma is a broad term that can range from a simple earache to a serious, life-threatening condition. So if you feel any discomfort after a pressure change, don't take it lightly, talk to your doctor. He or she will be able to give you the advice you need.
Take-Home Message
- Barotrauma is damage to the air sacs in our body caused by a sudden change in environmental pressure.
- This condition commonly occurs during air travel and underwater diving.
- This can affect the ears, sinuses, lungs, and digestive system.
- Simple measures such as chewing gum and blowing your nose during flights can reduce the impact on your ears.
- Severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe abdominal pain after diving are emergencies that require immediate treatment at a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU).
- If symptoms are severe or do not go away, be sure to see your doctor.
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