If your ears give you problems during air travel, below are a few tips to help ease the discomfort, but a little anatomy lesson first.
There is a physical link called the Eustachian tube that connects your throat to the space behind your eardrum, otherwise known as the middle ear. Normally, pressure in the middle ear space is the same as the outside air pressure. When cabin pressure changes during a flight, it is the job of this tube to equalize the pressure. What you feel when your ears hurt or plug up is the pressure change.
Swallowing, drinking, or pinching your nose and blowing can relieve that feeling. The descent always feels worse because the change in pressure seals the Eustachian tube.
Here are a few tricks:
- Try using nasal spray or a decongestant one hour before take-off. If your flight is longer than four hours, repeat a half hour before the descent.
- Drinking water and keeping hydrated during the flight is important. Swallowing helps the Eustachian tube open and close.
- Staying awake can ease discomfort because when we sleep, we don’t swallow. And when we don’t swallow, the Eustachian tube may close.
- At the airport or pharmacy, you can purchase Earplanes. These are silicone filtered earplugs, designed to slow down the rate of pressure and help ease your discomfort.
Proper insertion of any earplug is important. It’s also a great idea to get your ears checked before putting anything in your ears. If there’s wax, you will push it in deeper and create another problem.
Ear pain can put you at risk for damage to your eardrum. If you are experiencing pain, schedule an appointment to see your primary care physician or an Ear Nose and Throat specialist.
Safe travels and take care of your ears. After all, you only get one set.