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Valsalva maneuver
The valsalva maneuver or valsalva manoeuvre is performed by moderately forceful attempted exhalation against a closed airway, usually done by closing one's mouth, pinching one's nose shut while pressing out as if blowing up a balloon.
Dr. Jeffrey Ng reviewed this
33 year experience in Family Medicine
Related questions
A 46-year old asked:
What does valsalva maneuver do?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old female asked:
A herniation of some sort is the only way to feel something move in your lower back w/a valsalva maneuver right?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 28-year old female asked:
how to perform a Valsalva Maneuver for SVT? If it didn't work, what other maneuver that I can do safely?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old asked:
Why is the murmur of hocm louder on valsalva maneuver?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 29-year old asked:
Is it safe to perform the valsalva maneuver while scuba diving?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 20-year old male asked:
How does valsalva maneuver slow the heart rate down? What's the mechanism?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 22-year old female asked:
What are some tips to relieve heart palps? I have chronic palps, on diltiazem ER 60mg 2x daily. Still have palps. Valsalva maneuver doesn't help.
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 41-year old female asked:
What does it mean on ultrasound no movement of hernia with Valsalva maneuver?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 21-year old female asked:
I tried the Valsalva maneuver to lower my HR due to drinking caffeine it from 90 to 75. But it made me kinda lightheaded and foggy. Why is that?
1 doctor answer • 7 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old male asked:
If I have ear pain from ETD and what feels like excess pressure is the valsalva maneuver a bad idea?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A member asked:
Can performing the valsalva maneuver while weightlifting exacerbate normal leakage across the valves of the heart if a murmur already exists?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 16-year old female asked:
Valsalva maneuver resulted in ear barotrauma? What do I do? I was conjested &tried to rid blockage. Now theres pain and discomfort inside my right ear
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
A 21-year old male asked:
Every time I have to burp the air rushes through my eustachian tube and hits my eardrums. This issue has been going for about a year after I did the valsalva maneuver. I have read that nasal drops may help but i heard they can also worsen symptoms?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 20-year old female asked:
Was experiencing severe ear pain. Did the valsalva maneuver and I felt a pop in my ear, followed by sharp pain that went away after a few minutes. Did I rupture my eardrum?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 26-year old female asked:
My left nostril is stuffy from allergies. I just tried to blow my nose pretty hard and all of a sudden my heart started pounding is this normal? I was nervous an saw on google to do valsalva maneuver and within a few seconds my heart slowed?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 32-year old male asked:
Lump right side of neck. Ultrasound report rec. CT, CT normal. Valsalva maneuver shows slightly larger IJV on that side. No other symptoms. What next?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 22-year old male asked:
Is it safe to perform the Valsalva maneuver while I have an ear infection? (plugging my nose and blowing to pop my ears). The discomfort is really bad, but I don't want to try it if it could make the pain worse or cause damage.
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 40-year old male asked:
Can I try the Valsalva maneuver to try to get fluid out of my ear when I have a ruptured eardrum? I dont want to do any more damage but I hate this water trapped feeling inside my ear that is muffling my hearing. On meds/drops for a week. Any advice?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 61-year old female asked:
Used too much pressure doing nasal irrigation. Left ear is clogged. Valsalva maneuver ineffective. Have been taking sudafed. Ineffective?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 47-year old male asked:
For 2wks I've been hearing a hollow sound in my r. ear if I tap my teeth. Hearing OK,ear doesn't feel "full". The Valsalva maneuver doesn't fix it, but throwing my head quickly forward does. ENT said take flonase but hasn't helped. What could it be?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 20-year old female asked:
Hello, so I have a really weird problem : when I swallow, there's like explosion in my ears which sounds like the Valsalva maneuver, I've just seen a famous ENT doctor but there's nothings wrong in my ears for him, what should I do ?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 35-year old female asked:
Recovered from ear infection 3 weeks ago but still feel/hear fluid when I yawn,perform Valsalva maneuver or bend down.ive tried inhaling steam,a nasal balloon and a saline nasal spray.it is not shifting & Im worried about reinfection. Please help!
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 32-year old male asked:
When I do the vasalva maneuver the pressure stays in the middle ear and won't equalize. Does that mean I have eustachian tube dysfunction?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 26-year old female asked:
Nose was very stuffy and when I tried to blow really hard all of a sudden my heart was pounding. Is this normal? I checked my pulse was 140-150. Did valsava maneuver and heart slowed down. Why was my heart pounding after blowing my nose hard?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 31-year old male asked:
I'm ocular hypertensive, iop at base 16 (controlled). Does weightlifting increase eye pressure? What about normal breathing vs valsalva maneuver?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 23-year old female asked:
Cant unplug ears by Valsalva Maneuver. When I do it, it shoots liquid out of one of my tear ducts. Nasal passages extremely inflamed. Should I keep trying the Valsalva Maneuver? Is it safe? I feel a big pressure in my eye when I do?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 24-year old male asked:
Constant ear popping(on swallow), tinnitus, irritation in throat, from last 2months. I can't feel pressure in ears when I do "valsalva maneuver".
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 32-year old asked:
Can you explain the heimlich maneuver?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 46-year old asked:
Can I do the heimlich maneuver to myself?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 35-year old asked:
Is the heimlich maneuver always safe for everyone?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
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