This article will teach you how to get rid of blocked ears after diving, no matter if it’s during surface intervals or on the boat. It’s important to stay aware of what you can do if your connection to the surface is broken and how to survive a sudden ascent with underwater hearing protection avoiding ear barotrauma and barotitis. Here, we will discuss the best methods for getting rid of blocked ears after diving:
1. Commit to getting the water out
You will not get the water out if you aren’t committed to getting water out. You need to be willing to try different methods and even if they don’t work or hurt, keep trying.
If you have a lot of water in your ear, then it may be impossible to get it out without professional help. If you have a small amount of water, however, there are some things that you can do at home to remove it.
2. Avoid making sudden movements
Avoid making sudden movements while you are still underwater. It can take up to 30 minutes for your body to adjust after a dive, so be careful not to move too quickly until that happens.
Do not chew gum or smoke cigarettes as these will cause more mucus build-up in your nasal passages and could make you feel dizzy or lightheaded when coming up from the water.
3. Try a series of yawns and jaw exercises
You can try a series of yawns and jaw exercises. This will help to relieve pressure in the ears, which is especially useful for scuba divers who have been underwater for a long time. Do not force it; just do it gently.
4. Chew gum
Chewing gum can help you clear your ears by increasing the pressure in your ears. Chewing gum increases the pressure in your ears, which helps to push water out of them.
5. Take a deep breath and blow gently while pinching your nose closed.
To get rid of a blockage, take a deep breath and blow gently in your nose. Do not blow too hard or you could do damage to the eardrum. Be careful not to blow air into either ear, especially when there is water in your system. Also, avoid blowing more than three times since this will cause the eustachian tube to close again with any additional pressure applied by blowing.
6. Use an over-the-counter irrigation device or homemade bulb syringe.
If you have a blocked ear, you can use an over-the-counter irrigation device or homemade bulb syringe.
These are available at drug stores and medical supply stores. You can also make one yourself by filling a syringe with warm water and using it to irrigate your ear canal.
Here’s how to use either method:
7. Take an antihistamine for allergies if you think that’s the cause.
If you think your ears are blocked because of allergies, you can take an antihistamine like Allegra or Zyrtec. These medications will help to reduce your symptoms, but they don’t work immediately. You should wait at least 24 hours after taking an antihistamine before diving again to ensure that the medication has had time to work its way into your system.
When you dive again, if you notice that one ear is still blocked and the other is not, it’s likely that water got into your good ear during the dive and caused some damage to its inner workings. To unblock this type of ear without doing surgery (which isn’t always possible), try gently rolling up a towel and placing it deep into your affected ear canal as well as over top of the eardrum itself—a process called “ear packing.” This will prevent any more water from entering while also giving everything time to dry out naturally so that they can heal themselves over time
8. Consider a trip to the doctor if symptoms don’t improve.
If you’re still having trouble with your ears, or if you have a history of ear problems like ear infections, then it may be time to call the doctor. You should also give the doctor a call if:
- You have had ear surgery in the past
- You have a lung disease that affects your breathing (e.g., emphysema or asthma)
9. Getting your ears unblocked after diving is easier than you might think!
Getting your ears unblocked after diving is easier than you might think!
- Keep calm, and don’t panic – it’s not life-threatening.
- Take a couple of deep breaths to equalize the pressure in your ears and sinuses (the air spaces around your nose) before trying anything else—even if it doesn’t seem to be working right away, it will eventually help loosen up any blockage that’s there. If that doesn’t work, try pouring in some warm water while still breathing normally (don’t hold your breath), then blow gently into the outer ear canal before repeating steps 1-3 until you get rid of the blockage completely!
Conclusion
The tips in this article will help you to get rid of blocked ears. While it’s not possible to prevent ear problems entirely, there are steps you can take—such as wearing earplugs and taking breaks during your dives—that will reduce the risk of developing them. If you do develop a problem, try one or more of these solutions before seeking medical attention.