I am one day behind. I have been busy. I visited Edinburgh during the last bank holiday weekend and ran a half-marathon there. It was my wettest and windiest race so far. Somehow I have still managed a PB. I shaved off one whole minute and a little bit from my previous time. So I am very pleased indeed. Not that I am a record breaker but for someone who has started running mere five years ago, 2h 12m 43s for a half-marathon is a very satisfying result. I am also in a process of flat hunting, real estate agent handling, documents sorting, furniture buying and all the other -ings that comes with moving. But lets get to the point.

E in my personal grudges goes to ear barotrauma. It is a new expression that I have learned today. It is a fancy name for airplane ear – which I suffer from and when flying, I am subjecting myself to forced yawning, constant chewing and empty swallowing and a regular ear-popping exercise. In case you are not sure how to ear-pop exercise, place your thumb and index finger over your nostrils and press down. Once your nasal corridors are sealed, attempt to exhale (your mouth will stay closed). Voila – your ears pop and the pressure is released. At least for a while.

This is the medical explanation of the problem:

Airplane ear is the stress exerted on your eardrum and other middle ear tissues when the air pressure in your middle ear and the air pressure in the environment are out of balance. You may experience airplane ear at the beginning of a flight when the airplane is climbing or at the end of a flight when the airplane is descending. These fast changes in altitude cause air pressure changes and can trigger airplane ear.

Airplane ear is also called ear barotrauma, barotitis media or aerotitis media.

Usually self-care steps — such as yawning, swallowing or chewing gum — can prevent or correct the differences in air pressure and improve airplane ear symptoms. However, a severe case of airplane ear may need to be treated by a doctor.

Source

 Thankfully I have so far never had to seek medical attention but there were few cases of severe ear pain and headaches after spending time up in the air.

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E for a serious issue goes to Education barriers and Think Global is doing something about it by promoting education for a just and sustainable world.