The Valsalva maneuver is one way to relieve ear fullness. This condition can occur when traveling by plane or diving. The Valsalva maneuver can even be used to detect or treat other conditions.
The Valsalva maneuver is performed by exhaling while covering your nose and mouth. This technique aims to balance the air pressure in the ear and relieve ear congestion or feeling full.
Ears feeling full can be experienced when there is a change in air pressure from the lowlands to the highlands or vice versa, such as when boarding an airplane.
How to Do the Valsalva Maneuver
If your ears feel full after experiencing changes in air pressure, here's how to do the Valsalva maneuver to relieve complaints:
- Sit with the body in an upright position.
- Make sure your mouth is closed, then take a deep breath and pinch your nose.
- Slowly exhale like you are going to blow up a balloon for 15-20 seconds, make sure your mouth is closed and your nose is still squeezed.
- Repeat after 1 minute.
Other Conditions That Can Be Detected or Treated by the Valsalva Maneuver
Apart from relieving the ear from feeling full, the Valsalva maneuver can also be performed to reduce pain during injections. This technique can even treat several medical conditions, one of which is heart rhythm disturbance (arrhythmia).
In addition, the Valsalva maneuver can help doctors diagnose certain medical conditions, such as urinary incontinence and heart disease.
In the various cases above, the Valsalva maneuver requires monitoring from a doctor and may require certain methods, such as the use of tools. The following describes the Valsalva maneuver for other medical conditions:
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is a condition when a person finds it difficult or unable to hold back urination, either because the muscles in the urinary tract are weakened or the nerves are damaged.
The Valsalva maneuver can apply pressure to the urinary tract muscles as if you were pushing. This can be done as a urine leak test. People who have urinary incontinence may wet themselves during the Valsalva maneuver.
Problems in the heart valves
The Valsalva maneuver can be used to diagnose heart valve disease. The doctor will use a stethoscope to detect abnormal heart sounds while the patient is performing the Valsalva maneuver.
Hernia nucleus pulposus
People suspected of having a herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), also known as a pinched nerve, can feel pain during the Valsalva maneuver. Therefore, doctors often use this simple technique to diagnose HNP.
Autonomic nervous disorders
Autonomic nervous disorders, such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, can also be detected through the Valsalva maneuver with the help of a blood pressure meter (sphygmomanometer). During this procedure, patients with autonomic nervous disorders may experience an increase in blood pressure.
Heart rhythm disturbances
The Valsalva maneuver also includes simple medications to treat heart rhythm disturbances, particularly supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). The doctor will also install an electrocardiogram device to ensure that there is an improvement in heart rhythm after the Valsalva maneuver is performed.
Apart from medical purposes, you can apply the Valsalva maneuver in everyday life, especially when your ears feel full when traveling by plane or after diving.
If you have implemented the Valsalva maneuver but your ears always feel blocked, you should consult a doctor. Through consultation sessions, doctors can determine the right diagnosis and treatment.