Dealing With Airplane Ears

It doesn’t just affect babies. Airplane ears can be uncomfortable for adults too, if not downright painful. Airplane ears are caused by the changing atmospheric pressure, causing the eardrum to shift and block your Eustachian tubes. Some individuals who are prone to allergies or respiratory infections can experience a particularly painful descent on a plane. Thankfully, there are a few simple ways to prevent this from happening.

Drink

No this doesn’t mean alcohol, or even caffeine, which will just dehydrate you. Drinking plenty of fluids will thicken your nasal mucus and keep you swallowing, which equalizes the pressure. A hot drink will also help soothe your throat and sinuses.

Medicate

Tylenol and Motrin can help with the pain, but avoid painkillers like Excedrin that contain caffeine. Decongestants like Sudafed will shrink your nasal membranes and open up the Eustachian tubes. Sucking on lozenges is also effective, as is chewing gum, though this can also dehydrate you as well.

Plug

If you don’t want to take pills, earplugs are an effective way to regulate the pressure in your ear. Most pharmacies will have plugs made especially for plane travel, and you’re sure to find them at the airport newsstand.

Exercise

When all else fails, remember you can find relief by doing some simple exercises. Yawning and swallowing are easy enough, but there are a couple of other techniques that will help too. The Valslava Maneuver is when you pinch your nostrils shut and exhale out your nose, causing the air pressure to clear your ears. The Frenzel Maneuver is simpler, where you just need to utter a “kuh” or “guh” sound while pinching your nostrils together, raising the back of your tongue and Adam’s apple and opening up your Eustachian tubes.