![]() ![]() “Another way to prevent ‘airplane ear’ is by wearing special ear plugs during descent,” Block added. He recommended ensuring you take the proper dose to ensure the medications don’t wear off before the plane lands. ![]() ![]() Topical decongestants can be effective with fewer side effects, like oxymetazoline and phenylephrine.” “Pseudoephedrine can be taken orally, but has some side effects that need to be considered. “This is done by taking a decongestant,” Block said. If you have a stuffy nose, improving nasal function is key to improving ear function. “Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, drinking plenty of water and refraining from sleeping during takeoff and landing.” “Preventing airplane ear involves taking precautions before and during flights,” Whyte noted. “Over-the-counter decongestants or nasal sprays may assist in relieving congestion, which can change the pressure difference.” How can you prevent airplane ear? “The Valsalva maneuver, where one pinches the nose and gently blows while keeping the mouth closed, can also work,” Whyte said. If yawning, swallowing, blowing your nose or chewing gum don’t help equalize the pressure in your ears and relieve symptoms, there are other things you can try. This is usually closed and we need to open it in order to get air into the middle ear so the pressure is the same as the airplane cabin.” There is a tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose called the eustachian tube. “The pressure in your middle ear ― that space behind the ear drum where your ear bones are ― needs to increase as well so it is the same as the surrounding, or ambient, environment. Block, an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon and host of the “ Physician’s Guide to Doctoring” podcast. “When the airplane descends, the pressure in the cabin increases,” said Dr. “Young kids have a harder time since their ear canals are much smaller,” Whyte said.īasically, the pain or stress you feel on your ear stems comes from a lack of balance between the air pressure in your ear and in the cabin. Parts of the ear don’t function as well when you have a stuffy nose, for instance. This causes pain, which can present as the ears feeling clogged or popping.”Ĭertain factors can exacerbate symptoms, like having sinus congestion, respiratory infection or allergies. “The pressure changes can lead to the eardrum becoming stretched or, in rare cases, even ruptured. “It typically happens during takeoff or landing, causing discomfort and pain in the ears,” Whyte said. The phenomenon is also known as ear barotrauma, barotitis media or aerotitis media. John Whyte, chief medical officer at WebMD. “Airplane ear is a condition that is caused by a difference in air pressure between the inner ear and the surrounding environment during air travel,” said Dr. This phenomenon is so common it even has a name: airplane ear.īelow, doctors break down what you need to know about airplane ear, how to prevent it, and what to do if it won’t go away after you reach the ground. You have to deal with cramped seats, circulation issues, germs and other less-than-ideal factors.Īnd then of course, there’s the dreaded effect on your ear ― that uncomfortable and sometimes painful pressure. Over the course of mere hours, you can traverse thousands of miles over multiple countries.īut sitting in a metal tube in the sky for prolonged periods is not always the most comfortable experience. It’s hard to beat the speed and convenience of air travel. What many call "airplane ear" is also known as ear barotrauma, barotitis media or aerotitis media. ![]()
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