Ways to prevent airplane ear

Airplane ear, also known as ear barotrauma, is stress on your eardrum caused when the air pressure in your middle ear and the air pressure in the environment are out of balance. It is common to experience airplane ear when on a flight during takeoff and landing. Those with a cold, ear or sinus infection are more likely to experience the condition.

According to the Mayo Clinic, most cases of airplane ear are mild, manifesting as moderate discomfort or pain in your ear, a feeling of fullness or stuffiness in your ear, and muffled hearing. Those suffering severe symptoms might experience severe pain, increased ear pressure, moderate to severe hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing of ear), vertigo (spinning sensation), and bleeding from the ear.

The next time you’re on a flight, the Mayo Clinic recommends the following measures to prevent airplane ear:

• Yawn and swallow during takeoff and landing.

This will activate the muscles that open your eustachian tubes, which regulate air pressure. Try chewing gum or sucking on candy to help you swallow.

• Use the Valsalva maneuver during takeoff and landing. “Gently blow, as if blowing your nose, while pinching your nostrils and keeping your mouth closed. Repeat several times, especially during descent, to equalize the pressure between your ears and the airplane cabin.”

• Don’t sleep during ascent and descent. Try to stay awake for takeoffs and landings so you can perform these self-care techniques when you feel pressure in your ears.

• Take allergy medication. If you suffer from allergies, use allergy medication about an hour before your flight.