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Archive for the ‘Barotrauma’ Category

Enthusiast and hobbyists pursuit the sport of scuba diving to either observe the beauty of underwater flora and fauna, to fulfill advocacies geared towards marine life protection or simply to experience the thrill of diving into recreational depths. For whatever interest recreational divers may have for the sport, particular guidelines must be observed not only to increase the diver’s margin of safety but also to heighten the pleasure available from this popular diversion. Below is a rundown of 5 ‘don’t do’ tips that a scuba diver shouldn’t miss.

Do not dive when your airways are congested.
The tell tale signs of an upcoming cold, cough or flu should convince you to postpone your dive until such time that your airways become decongested of mucus. Many novice divers succumb to ear barotrauma due to the improper application of middle ear equalization techniques in the encounter of rising pressure at descent. Consequently, an upper respiratory infection doubles the risk with the condition’s likelihood to block the eustachian tube (the auditory tube linking the pharynx and the middle ear) and trigger middle ear squeezes. Middle ear squeezes can progress to ear barotrauma that often results to lung injury and damaged bodily tissues.

Do not drink alcohol before the dive.
Popularly referred to as ‘the Martini effect’, Nitrogen narcosis is imminent in the use of Nitrogen-based gases where the condition usually manifests in depths of over 100 feet; affecting diver cognition and response. The risk of intoxication is severed for divers who drink alcoholic beverages at least 24 hours before the dive. As much as possible, abstain from alcohol a few weeks before your planned diving trip.

Do not Overweight.
Many divers think that by strapping more lead weights onto their belt or by the legs could enhance buoyancy control; particularly for divers who often encounter problems during descent. Nonetheless, this practice will not only prove to be exhausting but also increases the inhalation effort of the diver which prevents the optimal use of his limited air supply. This results to limited bottom times and a weary diver. Before you dive, master pertinent buoyancy techniques and scuba equipment operation in the swimming pool and get rid of the heavy weights.

Do not dive in unknown waters.
Conduct prior research of the dive site’s profile before engaging in any dive. Better yet, consult a local diver for pertinent information so that you won’t be caught unprepared in the encounter of strong underwater currents, natural obstructions and possible attacks from marine animals. If conducting a night dive, be sure to perform a preliminary dive of the site during daytime.

Do not ascend too quickly or ignore decompression stops.
Unlike the free diver, the scuba diver is required to perform a series of decompression stops during ascent and not rise hurriedly towards the surface. The diver needs to off-gas traces of inert gases accumulating in the bloodstream and tissues that is borne of the use of Nitrogen-based gases for breathing. Ascending too quickly without adhering to set decompression stops (except when diving NDL zones only) can cause decompression sickness or the bends. For this purpose, scuba equipment such as a dive computer would come in handy to alert you of decompression stops and your ascent rate.

Felix Tero produces web content for Scuba Suppliers, Inc. Get the scuba equipment that’s right for you at http://www.scubasuppliers.com

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Ear pain is one of the chief complaints for both adults and children. It is important for the cause of the ear pain to be determined before tying to treat the symptom. This can be the symptom of a direct cause or an indirect cause (pain which originates from another region of the body and radiates into the ear). Treatment of ear pain will depend entirely on the underlying cause. Treatment can range from antibiotics to surgery. In fact for some causes of it, there is no real way to prevent the pain, only to treat the symptom itself. It is important to take care of your ears by avoiding loud environments without protection and keeping all objects including cotton swabs our of the ear canal.

Some of the more common causes of ear pain are:

* Ear trauma

This includes slapping or blunt force on the exterior of the ear, loud sounds or blasts of sounds, and excessive ear picking.

* Ear conditions

Ear conditions vary and can be from bacteria causing ear infections, middle ear infection or otitis media. Having a build up of wax holding fluid in can cause pain. Swimmer’s ear is when water becomes trapped in the ear canal and causes pain. A foreign object stuck in the ear, a perforation of the tympanic membrane, a boil in the canal, cold sores or ulcers in the ear canal and cancer of the ear are all types of ear conditions that can cause pain. There are far too many ear conditions to list them all, this is only a list of some of the more common conditions.

* External ear pain

Again these can be external ear trauma that does not impact the inner or middle ear. External hematoma, boils, or skin cancer can cause external pain of the ear.

* Underlying causes of referred ear pain

This is when pain originates in one place and radiates into the ear. Dental work or periodontal abscess, along with other dental disorders often cause ear pain. Infections of the throat or sinus passage way, along with tonsillitis, pharyngitis tumors or cancer of the tongue, larynx, or spine can cause ear pain. TMJ disorder or jaw arthritis are tow skeletal disorders that can cause ear pain. Barotrauma which often referred to as ear popping when a person is involved in air travel or scuba diving. Certain kinds of nerve disorders can cause this; as can various skin disorders such as eczema and dermatitis. Glue ear is relatively unheard of but actually is the culprit of many ear pain patients. It is a condition when the fluid accumulates in the middle ear.

Again treatment for ear pain depends upon the underlying cause. The list above barely scratches the surface of the under lying cause that could be resulting in pain. When ever you have ear pain or ringing in your ears, you should contact your health care professional for medical treatment. Only a trained health care professional we be able to determine what the cause is.

Bright blessings,
Ashira
http://www.ashira.ws
ashira@ashira.ws
Ashira is a Practicing Pagan for over 15 years. Currently she is a featured columnist at http://Asknow.com
The Witches’ Child Author
Bacon Bits Author
FFWA Member
Cassel Network of Writers Member

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