{"id":73928,"date":"2024-02-07T06:34:38","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T13:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=73928"},"modified":"2024-02-07T06:34:38","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T13:34:38","slug":"how-to-keep-ears-healthy-while-scuba-diving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/how-to-keep-ears-healthy-while-scuba-diving\/","title":{"rendered":"How to keep your ears healthy while scuba diving"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Scuba divers should be mindful about how to protect their ear health while exploring beautiful underwater worlds. Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When it comes to recreation activities, Colorado has it all: skiing, hiking, biking, mountain trekking and trail running.<\/p>\n

Oh, and don\u2019t forget scuba diving.<\/p>\n

Scuba diving in a land-locked state? Yes, you read that right. For a state that prides itself on its purple mountain majesty, you might be surprised to know that the Mile High State has one of the highest numbers of certified scuba divers per capita in the United States.<\/p>\n

Chalk these high scuba diving rates up to the typical Colorado resident who is up for adventure and love of all things outdoors, from scaling mountain tops to exploring the ocean floor. And while tackling 14er\u2019s necessitates planning, preparation and precaution, so, too, does scuba diving.<\/p>\n

Scuba diving and ear health<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What steps can you take to make sure that your tropical vacation doesn\u2019t include a trip to the local ER for scuba-related ear problems? Or even worse, that you end up with an ear problem that is so serious that you need to seek help once you return home?<\/p>\n

To answer your questions, we talked with UCHealth ear, nose and throat expert, Dr. Samuel Gubbels<\/a>, about some do\u2019s and dont\u2019s to keep in mind as you\u2019re packing your swimsuit and sunscreen. In fact, one of the ear, nose and throat physician\u2019s recommendations should even be started in the weeks prior to your vacation to maximize its effectiveness.<\/p>\n

Why are ear problems common for some people who scuba dive?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cAs a diver descends, and the surrounding pressure increases on the outer ear, the middle ear pressure remains the same. That imbalance is what causes pain. Through equalization, pressure in the middle ear is matched to the pressure outside of the ear as a way to avoid ear damage and pain,” said Gubbels, who is also an associate professor<\/a> of Otolaryngology and Neurosurgery and medical director of the UCHealth Ear Nose and Throat Clinic<\/a> at the Anschutz Medical Campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Scuba and ear pressure 101: What happens to ears when you scuba dive?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Gubbels describes the basic anatomy of the ear to explain how scuba ascents and descents work. These basics about pressurization also apply to plane rides and car trips up the mountains when you find your ears needing to pop.<\/p>\n

The external ear consists of the ear canal and eardrum, the middle ear is a space filled with air, and deeper still are fluid-filled chambers called the cochlea and vestibule. The cochlea and vestibule detect sound and balance information, sending this input to the brain, which enables us to hear and keep our balance.<\/p>\n

The main way for our middle ear to \u201ccommunicate\u201d with the outside world and maintain the same pressure (which helps us retain that equilibrium) is through the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat, Gubbels said.<\/p>\n

How do ears pressurize?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s much easier when you\u2019re flying or driving for people to pressurize or “pop” their ears, Gubbels said. We can yawn, swallow, chew gum or drink something, which opens up the eustachian tube, allowing air flow in and out of the middle ear to help equalize the pressure.<\/p>\n

But for scuba divers, it\u2019s a bit more complicated.<\/p>\n

The majority of scuba ear injuries happen when that recalibration of pressure in the middle ear doesn\u2019t occur correctly through the eustachian tubes as the pressure inside the middle ear is not balanced with the pressure around the diver.<\/p>\n

So how can people scuba dive safely while also keeping their ears healthy? Experts advise divers to relax, not hold your breath and above all, equalize early and often while diving.<\/p>\n

According to PADI<\/a>, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, and the world\u2019s largest diver organization that annually issues 1 million certificates, techniques include:<\/p>\n