Barotrauma is discomfort or injury caused by a change in pressure between an air-filled body cavity and the outside atmosphere, commonly experienced by air travelers and scuba divers. Symptoms include pain, discomfort, and dizziness. Precautions such as equalizing pressure can prevent or relieve barotrauma.
Barotrauma is the injury or discomfort felt during a change in pressure between an air-filled body cavity and the outside atmosphere. It is most commonly experienced as pressure in a passenger’s ears during takeoff or landing of an airplane. Barotrauma is also commonly heard in a diver’s ears as they descend into the water.
The body has acclimatised to a certain atmospheric pressure on land, and since most areas of the body are solid or liquid, these parts can generally withstand any changes in the outside air or water pressure. However, some areas, such as the ears, sinuses and lungs, are filled with air and as a result must expand or contract to cope with more drastic or sudden changes in the weather. A quick change, however, can break delicate fabrics.
This is a practical example of Boyle’s law, which states that if the temperature stays the same, the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to the absolute pressure. This relationship between volume and pressure explains why when flying an airplane, a closed, half-full bottle of water pops open when opened after takeoff, and why the empty bottle is crushed upon landing. The volume of the bottle expands upon takeoff due to the decrease in air pressure that exists outside the bottle. Conversely, the volume of the empty bottle decreases as the outside air pressure increases.
While barotrauma is usually found in air travelers and scuba divers, those on a ventilator are at risk if the machine pumps too much air into their lungs. Additionally, those who unload a gun or are near another type of explosive blast can be affected by the pressure wave.
Barotrauma is perceived as simple ear popping during flight or a possibly fatal rupture of the lungs when a diver surfaces too quickly. Symptoms include: pain or discomfort in the ear, sinuses, face, teeth, gut, or lungs; a stuffy or full feeling in the ears; heachache; nausea; and dizziness.
Simple precautions can prevent or relieve barotrauma. Those experiencing pain should try to equalize the pressure between the internal and external cavities. On an airplane, passengers may yawn, swallow or chew gum. Babies should breastfeed or drink from a bottle during takeoff and landing. Divers often perform the Valsalva maneuver to release air pockets in their ears and mask. The Valsalva maneuver involves forcibly blowing air through the nose while keeping the nostrils closed. Divers are also taught to ascend slowly, rising no faster than their bubbles, to allow their lungs to slowly stabilize.
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