How to Relieve Plugged Ears
Ears can become plugged or clogged for many different reasons. When flying, many people's ears clog so badly they have tremendous pain as a result. Scuba diving can cause tremendous pressure on the ears as well. Even something as simple as a cold can result in closing your Eustachian tube, which is the cause of the unpleasant, plugged-up feeling, making you miserable.
Plugged ears can lead to missing out on things, from work to fun, to simply hearing conversations. Try these methods and you can look forward to your world sounding a little clearer and enjoying your life again.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Open you mouth as wide as you can. Sometimes, clearing your ears can be accomplished by simply dropping your jaw for a few seconds. If your ears are only slightly clogged, this method does the trick.
-
2
Try "Ear Planes" when flying. "Ear Planes" are small rubber ear plugs that have been reinforced with special filters to actually relieve the pressure in your ears. Simply pull the top of your ear up with one hand, and screw the plug in with the other. Insert the plugs just before take off, and again as soon as the plane begins its decent.
-
-
3
Hold your nose, close your mouth and blow gently to pop your Eustachian tube open. This is the method taught by divers and is called "equalizing" when scuba diving. Equalizing can also be used when flying.
-
4
Chew gum. For slight cold congestion, or air pressure gum chewing often works to alleviate the problem. Decongestants can sometimes help to unclog your ears as well. Try taking a decongestant before flying or with cold causing ear trouble.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Be sure to follow the instructions on the back of the "Ear Planes" box. For frequent colds causing ear pain, be sure to see a physician as you may need antibiotics to clear an ear infection.
Never put anything into your ears, as you can cause serious damage including hearing loss. Do not use the "blowing with your nose closed" method for cold or ear infection problems, because you could make the problem worse by blowing mucus into the Eustachian tube. This method is for air pressure only. Always go to the doctor to check for ear wax. Do not use over the counter drops just because you suspect you may have wax. These medications can also damage your ears.
