How to Keep Your Ears From Blocking on a Flight

Air travel can become painful to your ears when the plane descends for a landing. As the cabin pressure changes, your ears can become increasingly blocked and painful.

If your ears pop, you’ll experience wonderful relief. If not, you’re in for a lot of pain, a feeling of fullness in the ears and hearing loss.

There are a number of ways to unblock your ears. All the methods attempt to open what's called the Eustachian tube. This tube is approximately the size of a pencil lead and connects the middle ear air space behind your eardrum to the back of your nose.

Things You'll Need

• Decongestant Sudafed pills
• Decongestant nasal spray, such as Afrin, Neo-Synephrine, and Dristan Nasal Spray
• Chewing gum
• Hard candy

Instructions

Prevention

1. Ask your family doctor or primary care physician (PCP) about taking over-the-counter decongestant pills and nasal sprays. Use of decongestants is not recommended for certain medical conditions so it is very important that you consult with your doctor first.

2. Take the decongestant pill one hour before descent to give the medication time to take effect.

3. One hour before descent gently blow your nose to prepare to take the nasal spray. This will clear your nasal passages for more efficient absorption of the medication.

4. Sit upright and place the nozzle into your nostril. Sniff while squeezing the bottle quickly.

5. Repeat Step 4 with the other nostril.

6. Wait three to five minutes, then blow your nose gently.

7. Repeat Steps 3 to 6 until you have completed the recommended dose as directed on the label or by your doctor.

During descent

1. Stay awake during descent so you can clear your ears if they get blocked.

2. Chew gum or suck on hard candy to promote swallowing. You can also try yawning. Your Eustachian tube may open from swallowing or yawning.

3. Pinch your nostrils, take a breath through your mouth, close it, and gently blow as if you are going to blow out your nose. You will hear a pop and immediately feel relief if the Eustachian tube opens.

4. Repeat Step 3 several times during the landing and afterward until your ears remain unblocked.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have allergies, take your medication as normally directed.

• If you are prone to ear blockage from air travel you should combine Sections 1 and 2 but chew gum and suck on hard candy before take off.

• You should not take decongestants unless approved by your family doctor.

• Do not blow with force when attempting to pop open your Eustachian tube of Step 3 in Section 2. Too much force may cause dizziness and vertigo.

References

• American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: Ears and Altitude
• National Institutes of Health: Ear barotrauma
• Drugs.com: Afrin

Resources

• Read this Article in UK English
• American Hearing Research Foundation