How to Unblock Your Ears After Flying: Tips and Solutions

Traveling by airplane can be a bit challenging for your ears, especially during takeoff and landing. You might feel a lot of pressure and even pain. Sometimes, after a flight, you might hear a whooshing sound in your ear. Here, we will explore various techniques and tips to unblock your ears and relieve discomfort.

Understanding Ear Pressure and Pain

During flight, changes in altitude can cause the eustachian tubes, the small passageways connecting the middle ear to the back of the nose, to become blocked. This can result in a feeling of pressure and pain in the ear. The resulting discomfort, often described as a whooshing sound, can be a sign that your eustachian tubes are swollen and not functioning properly.

Effective Techniques to Unblock Your Ears

There are several well-known methods to relieve the pressure and pain in your ears during and after a flight. Here are some popular and effective techniques:

Val Salva Maneuver

The Val Salva maneuver is a tried and tested method to equalize the pressure in your ears. This involves pinching your nostrils and gently blowing out to push air into your middle ear. Here’s how you can perform it:

Pinch your nostrils shut gently. Close your mouth and exhale gently. Do it slowly so as not to cause discomfort. Try to feel your ears "pop" or clear.

Some people also report hearing a crackling noise as the tube opens, but this is not always the case. The key is to be gentle and consistent.

Other Common Methods

There are a few more popular methods to consider:

Pinch Nose and Blow

Close your mouth. Pinch your nose closed with your fingers. Blow gently through your nose, keeping it closed. Listen for a crackling noise as the tube opens.

Stretching the Jaw

Try to open your mouth wide and stretch your jaw slightly:

Open your mouth as wide as possible. Gently stretch your jaw side to side. This can help equalize the pressure in your ears.

Nostril Pinching and Exhaling

Another technique involves nostril pinching and exhaling:

Close your mouth and nose. Exhale gently through your nose. Do not let your mouth open. Try to clear your ears and relieve the pressure.

Additional Tips

Here are a few supplementary tips and tricks to consider:

Chewing gum: Chewing gum during the flight can help stimulate the swallowing reflex and equalize the pressure in your ears. Pinch and Pull: Grip the tail fins of the airplane seat firmly and give a steady pull to help relieve ear pressure. Decongestants: Over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays can help reduce swelling in the eustachian tubes. Ensure you have a good decongestant, such as those containing guafenesin, like Mucinex, and an oral decongestant like Ephedrine or Actifed.

Conclusion

Dealing with ear pressure and pain after a flight can be quite uncomfortable, but with the right techniques and approaches, you can find relief. Whether it’s the Val Salva maneuver, the pinch and blow method, or simply chewing gum, a combination of these methods can help you unblock your ears, relieve discomfort, and enjoy a more comfortable flight journey.

References and Further Reading

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