Released on: May 28, 2008, 6:24 am

Press Release Author: BeyondPR

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Ear pain tops the bill, with over one third of people
suffering

Press Release Body: As millions of holiday-makers prepare to fly out of Britain this
Bank Holiday and for their upcoming summer holidays, we should be taking more care
of our health - and particularly our ears - according to leading charity, Deafness
Research UK. An independent survey commissioned by Deafness Research UK shows that
almost 70% of people experience some health problems when flying, with ear pain the
most common medical problem experienced whilst traveling on a plane.

Over a third of people (34.3%) have experienced ear pain during a flight. The second
most common condition is swollen feet or ankles (18.8%) and 14.9% have experienced
stress, anxiety or "air rage" during a flight. Only 28.6% of people have never
experienced a medical problem while flying (see table below for full results).

Many ear problems are avoidable with good ear hygiene and regular check-ups,
according to Deafness Research UK. Once on the plane, there are things you can do to
minimise ear pain if you are unlucky enough to suffer any discomfort. The charity
has re-launched its free leaflet called 'In-flight ear health' which is now
available and gives practical tips on preventing ear discomfort, including guidance
for hearing aid users and parents of children with glue ear. For a free copy of
Deafness Research's In-flight ear health tips, contact the Deafness Research UK
Information Service on freephone 0808 808 2222. E-mail: info@deafnessresearch.org.uk

Write to: Deafness Research UK, FREEPOST WC4938, London WC1X 8BR.

Dr Gordon Hickish, adviser to Deafness Research UK and a family GP with a special
interest in ear, nose and throat, said:\"This survey shows that most people
experience some sort of health problem when flying. Ear pain is clearly the most
common problem by far, and we can all do a lot to reduce the likelihood of
experiencing ear problems when flying - by taking often very simple preventative and
reactive measures to avoid and minimise problems."



Vivienne Michael, chief executive of Deafness Research UK said: "Ear pain in the air
can ruin many people's holiday before it has even started. More worryingly, it can
lead to much more serious hearing problems in people who have a bad cold when they
fly. We want holiday-makers and regular flyers to be aware of how common this is and
the simple things you can do, like yawning or swallowing regularly, to ease the
pain." Most discomfort results from changes in cabin pressure and these are most
noticeable as the aircraft descends. During descent, the air in the middle ear is at
a lower pressure than the air in the cabin. The Eustachian tubes, which pass air
from the nose into the middle ear when you swallow, may become blocked with mucus,
and the small muscles in the throat which normally open them may not be able to do
so. The eardrum is pressed inward and tensed, resulting in discomfort, and even
pain.

Vivienne Michael continued: "As with many health issues, prevention is better than
cure. Making sure you consult your GP and read our leaflet if you know you have a
problem before flying would be a wise move. Once on the plane, you can minimise ear
pain or discomfort by swallowing regularly so keep a drink handy - boiled sweets or
chewing gum also help. This helps air pass more easily through the Eustachian tubes.
If this doesn't help, you could try blowing through your nose while pinching your
nostrils which forces air along the Eustachian tube, equalising the pressure.
Yawning also helps a lot but is difficult to do repeatedly. For a full set of tips
contact Deafness Research UK for the free leaflet."
TOP TEN IN-FLIGHT HEALTH PROBLEMS
The top ten most common minor medical problems people experience while flying are:

1. Ear pain (34.3%)
2. Swollen feet or ankles (18.8%)
3. Aching joints or muscles (18.8% - as above)
4. Stress, anxiety or "air rage" (14.9%)
5. Dehydration (10.1%)
6. Extreme fatigue (8.1%)
7. Dizziness or fainting (5.5%)
8. Sickness or nausea (4.9%)
9. Toothache (2.5%)
10. Hyperventilation (2.5%)
(28.6% of people have never experienced a medical problem while flying).

CASE STUDY
We dreaded going on aeroplanes
Geraldine Googe, from London, recalls why, until recently, every flight was a
nightmare:
\"Like many children, my daughter Kerri, aged 10, seemed to have a constantly snuffly
nose. And the worse it was the more discomfort she seemed to experience while we
were in the air. \"She never seemed to be bothered while the plane was taking off. It
was as the plane began its descent that she would put her hands over her ears and
wail, \'It hurts, Mummy.\' Often, she would start crying and burying her face in my
lap. She started to dread going on aeroplanes. \"Personally, I find that by yawning,
my ears go pop and the sound rushes back in, and that\'s me sorted, so the final part
of a flight is not really a problem. But you can\'t always get a child to yawn on
cue. \"The tips in the Deafness Research UK leaflet have been very helpful. Kerri was
quite happy with the suggestion that sucking a boiled sweet during descent would
encourage regular swallowing. It doesn\'t work quite as quickly as yawning, but has
an added calming effect. I also used a nasal spray on her to reduce the blocked up
nose feeling. She was completely free of symptoms for the first time during our most
recent flight.\"
ENDS
Notes to editors:

1. The survey was conducted by NEMS Market Research and used a general cross section
of the population (sample size = 528 people of whom 45 have never flown). Full
details and results are available.
2. A useful guide to most in-flight medical problems and how to avoid them is
available here (by Dr Rob Hicks):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/travel_health/before_flighthealth.shtml
3. About Deafness Research UK
. Deafness Research UK is the country's only charity dedicated to finding new cures,
treatments and technologies for deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired
people.
. The charity supports high quality medical research into the prevention, diagnosis
and treatment of all forms of hearing impairment including tinnitus.
. The Deafness Research UK Information Service provides free information and advice
based on the latest scientific evidence and informed by leading experts. The
Information Service can be contacted on Freephone 0808 808 2222
. Deafness Research UK was founded in 1985 by Lord and Lady Ashley of Stoke.
. With effect from January 2008, Action for Tinnitus Research (ATR), became part of
the Deafness Research UK family of charities.
. For more information on research into deafness, tinnitus and other hearing
conditions, log on to the website at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk where you can
access a wide range of information. Alternatively you can e-mail Deafness Research
UK at info@deafnessresearch.org.uk
. One in seven people in the UK - almost nine million people - suffer hearing loss.
For more information on tinnitus and research into deafness and other hearing
conditions, log on to the website at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk where you can
access a wide range of information. People can call the Deafness Research UK
freephone helpline on 0808 808 2222, or e-mail info@deafnessresearch.org.uk



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Ref: DRUK0080 - Flying