vasalva maneover thing - dangerous?

[daisycake]

Have itchy clogged ears and was trying to clear them by taking a deep breath and holding my nose then trying to force air out my nose. It didn't work, made me dizzy and ears ring. Couldn't get rid of it and googled, found an article on how doing that thing can kill you and regularly kills people if they're on the loo, it should only be done in A&E etc cos it changes your heart rythym? Is that true? I am presuming as this was 25 mins ago I am OK, but still worried?

[swgrl09]

Oh, popping your ears? I've done it by accident a couple times when trying to blow a really stuffy nose out ... I was ok, but it was uncomfortable. I don't think it is something doctors will recommend, but my sisters do it all the time ... I'd try something gentler, personally, to unclog ears like drops or something.

[nomorepanic]

Well i have never read that before and I do it all the time!

[justina]

I really don't think taht it is dangerous and I am sure it is not that easy to kill oneself. This valsalva manouver is something a doctor told me to do several times every day...I don't think he wanted to see me dead, but who knows? :D
I had a problem with my ears called otosalpingitis or something like that, and the cure was to do the valsalva...

[countrygirl]

If you every see and ent surgeon its one of the tests they do to check your eardrums are moving correctly so it cannot be dangerous.

The only time it could be harmful is if your ears are completely blocked with mucus and you keep blowing so hard you burst a blood vessel somewhere!

So if your ears don't pop straight away don't keep trying:)

[nomorepanic]

ok it can't be dangerous cos it is used to sort palpitations out:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/heartandblood/201275.html

Not sure what website you read but was it trustworthy?