Earache

Earache - or otalgia - may be caused by ear disease, such as infection in the outer or middle ear, or by disorders of the throat, teeth or joints of the jaw. Those caused by ear disease frequently also affect hearing. The eardrum is very sensitive to pressure changes (if it weren't we couldn't hear) and extreme changes cause pain if the pressures can't be equalised on either side of the drum - as may happen when we fly in aircraft. Some people suffer severe pain and deafness. This happens coming down only, because of the way the Eustachian tube allows air to move. We suffer if the tube won't open. We can encourage opening by yawning or swallowing (which is why some airlines give you sweets to suck when coming in to land).
 
 
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