You've come to a good place if you ever wanted to equalize your ears. Toynbee is a safe way to equalize ears. It doesn’t involve the Valsalva maneuver that is the common approach. It involves gentle sucking in and exhaling from the mouth. You will feel a difference after swallowing.
Eustachian tubes equalize when you swallow
The eustachian tubes are a series of passageways that connect the middle ear with the nasopharynx, or back of the nasal cavity. They are used to equalize the air pressure in your middle ear. Swallowing and chewing can open the tubes and allow air into the middle ear. When the tubes are blocked, the middle ear cannot function properly, resulting in hearing loss.
A clogged eustachian tube can cause pain and discomfort in the ears, and in some cases, may even result in ear damage. This condition is usually temporary and can easily be treated by addressing the root cause. You can use antibiotics or decongestants to treat the condition. Some cases, however, may require surgery to restore normal eustachian function.
Valsalva maneuver doesn't equalize ears
There are several methods that can equalize your ears. One is the Valsalva maneuver. You pinch your nostrils and blow through your nose to equalize your ears. The excess throat pressure pushes air through Eustachian tube openings and pushes it through your nostrils. The Valsalva maneuver can be useful, even though it's not as effective as breathing through the mouth.
Another effective equalizing technique is to squeeze the nostrils and blow air into the sinuses. This is the simplest way to equalize ears. It works well. However, it is important to not blow too hard through your nose. This can cause further injury to your ears. Blowing too hard can cause damage to your ears and even break your round windows.
Toynbee maneuver safely equalizes ears
The Toynbee maneuver is used to equalize the pressure in the middle of the ear. Because the middle ear has a dead air space, they need to be equalized to match their pressures. The best way to achieve this is to swallow and gently pinch your nose. This can help reduce the pain that is caused by the middle ear pressure imbalance.
This maneuver should be practiced to avoid locking the Eustachian tube. Too much pressure can cause these tissues to close. This is why you need to be familiar with the Toynbee maneuver.
Unfair equalization: Signs and symptoms
It is important to use correct equalization techniques for free divers. Incorrect equalization techniques may lead to inner-ear barotrauma. Valsalva maneuvers, which are particularly forceful, can cause the window to burst. This happens when the fluid pressure rises and the round window bursts. This is a potentially dangerous condition and requires emergency medical attention.
If you feel pain during equalization, stop immediately. You should not go too far as too much equalization could cause the Eustachian tubes to become locked. Instead, consider climbing just a few steps. If equalization is still painful, lower yourself and repeat the procedure. If you feel pain, try the Lowry procedure, which combines Valsalva maneuvers with the Toynbee maneuver. To equalize your ears you can also pinch your nose, and swallow.