How do you unclog ears after flying: Tips for Relief and Prevention?

Overcoming Airplane Ear: Tips for Relief and Prevention

When you were in an aircraft and you got off, and seemed like your ears have been clogged, or you hear everything but through a filter of wool, you are not alone. The condition is common and is normally referred to as airplane ear; it is brought about by the variation in cabin pressure on the landing and takeoff phases. It might feel uncomfortable but the good thing is that there are a number of methods through which you can decongest the pressure and clear your ears without any harm.

Understanding Why Ears Get Clogged

There are small tubes (Eustachian tubes) in the ears which serve the purpose of balancing the pressure between the inner ear and the outer air. These tubes may fail to keep everything in balance when the air pressure varies suddenly, e.g. when the plane is climbing up the mountain or flying down it. It results in the common feeling of fullness, popping or temporary hearing loss.

In some cases, the ear congestion in planes resolves itself. Otherwise it may require some little effort to get rid of that blocked feeling.

Simple Techniques to Unclog Your Ears

The following are some of the methods that are safe to experiment with after flying in an attempt to get your ears back to normal:

• Swallowing frequently: The muscles that open the Eustachian tubes are used when swallowing. This can be helped by sipping up water, sucking candy or chewing gum to simplify the exercise and make it faster.
• Yawning slowly: A slow, open yawning may be helpful in stretching the muscles around the Eustachian tubes. See whether you can repeat this a few times, should you still feel blocked.
• Valsalva maneuver: This is done by deep breathing, closing your mouth, pinching your nose, and blowing out. The idea is to press air into the Eustachian tubes so as to bring the pressure to a balance. Do not blow too hard or you will burst your ear drum.
• Toynbee maneuver: Swallowing your nose and pinching it is yet another safe alternative. This mixture usually stimulates the tubes to open better.
• Warm compress: A warm compress or cloth can be applied to the ear which has the problem and this may help the tube to open on its own.
• Staying hydrated: Fluids maintain the mucous membranes in your throat and nose hydrated and thus the Eustachian tubes are able to operate more effectively. The clogged feeling can be aggravated by dehydration caused during travel.

When to Seek Medical Help

Airplane ear in most of the cases corrects itself over a span of few hours. You ought to see a doctor though, when:

• The plugging feeling does not end in a few days.
• You feel a terrible pain or dizzy.
• you have fluid in your ear.
• The hearing is still impaired.

The symptoms may represent a serious obstruction, ear infection, or even perforated ear drum.

How to Prevent Ear Clogging When Flying

In many cases, prevention is a good approach. Some habits can be used to reduce the level of discomfort before and during the flight:

• Yawn, chew gum or suck on lozenges on ascent and descent.
• You should not sleep during take off or landing as you might miss the opportunity of gradual equalisation of pressure.
• Wear earplugs that are filtered and specifically used in flying that balances the changes in pressure.
• In individuals who have colds, sinus infection or allergies, the risk of airplane ear is minimized by treating those disorders beforehand.

Conclusion

Although airplane ear is inconveniencing, with the knowledge of its causes and solutions, it can be comfortable to alleviate the inconvenience. Most individuals can get relief by usings few techniques such as swallowing, yawning and staying hydrated. Moreover, preventive measures will reduce the threat of blockage in the air during flight. The persistence and aggravation of symptoms are the reasons to consult a physician to guarantee the proper state of the ears.