Scholars, advocates, and activists seeking to make the U.S. a more responsible global partner.

How To Treat Barotrauma [extra Quality] Jun 2026

Despite these efforts, Jack's pain persisted, and he began to feel a sense of fullness in his ears. He knew he needed to seek medical attention to prevent further complications. Alex helped him get to the nearest medical facility, where a doctor examined him and diagnosed a middle ear barotrauma.

As they swam deeper, Jack started to feel a sharp pain in his ears. He tried to equalize the pressure, but it only got worse. He signaled to Alex that he was heading back to the surface, but as they ascended, the pain intensified. Jack was experiencing barotrauma, a common injury caused by the failure to equalize pressure in the ears or sinuses. how to treat barotrauma

Lawrence S. Wittner (https://www.lawrenceswittner.com/ ) is Professor of History Emeritus at SUNY/Albany and the author of Confronting the Bomb (Stanford University Press).