Certified Transport Registered Nurse Certification Practice Exam

What can result from an inability to equalize ear pressure during descent?

1. Barodontalgia

2. Barotitis media

3. Both A and B

4. Nausea

The correct answer is: Both A and B

An inability to equalize ear pressure during descent can lead to both barodontalgia and barotitis media. Barodontalgia is a condition characterized by dental pain caused by changes in atmospheric pressure that affect the teeth. This can occur during descent when pressure in the middle ear and sinus cavities fluctuates, which can indirectly impact the dental nerves or structures affecting the teeth. Barotitis media, on the other hand, specifically refers to the inflammation and discomfort in the middle ear resulting from unequal pressure between the outer and middle ear. This condition often manifests during activities such as flying or scuba diving when there is a rapid change in altitude, and individuals are unable to effectively equalize the pressure through mechanisms such as swallowing or yawning. The simultaneous occurrence of both conditions due to an inability to equalize ear pressure provides a comprehensive understanding of how pressure changes can adversely affect multiple areas of the body. Therefore, the correct answer encompasses the possibility of both conditions arising from the same physiological challenge.