What is Airplane Ear?
Airplane ear is a common condition occurring when people use airplane travel and it may also be called aerotitis or barotitis media, or ear barotrauma. Essentially, it is caused when pressure in the middle ear exceeds that in the outside environment. This can create a situation where the eardrum doesn’t vibrate properly and where it stretches which can result in discomfort. In rare circumstances, lack of balanced pressure in and outside of the middle ear results in rupture or tear in an eardrum. Most people will experience only mild airplane ear when they fly. Symptoms of this condition can include a feeling of pressure in the ears or of stuffiness or ear congestion. People may also note slightly diminished hearing and some mild ear pain. Sometimes symptoms are more pronounced and may include very severe ear pain, dizziness or motion sickness, ringing in the ears, bleeding from the ears, and significant hearing loss. Several things may help prevent or minimize symptoms of airplane ear,
