7
ways
to
get
rid
of
airplane
ears
in
adults

Here
are
7
effective
ways
to
get
rid
of
airplane
ears
in
adults
and
a
few
ways
to
treat
them
in
children.

1. 
   Swallowing:
   Swallowing
   is
   an
   effective
   method
   that
   activates
   muscles
   to
   open
   eustachian
   tubes.
   Swallowing
   helps
   clear
   blocked
   ears
   in
   children
   because
   it
   is
   difficult
   for
   them
   to
   perform
   other
   maneuvers.
2. 
   Chewing
   gums:
   Chewing
   gums
   or
   sucking
   on
   hard
   candy
   helps
   relieve
   pressure
   in
   two
   ways:
   • They
     stimulate
     the
     production
     of
     saliva,
     which
     increases
     swallowing
   • Continuous
     chewing
     helps
     open
     the
     eustachian
     tubes
3. 
   Valsalva
   maneuver:
   This
   is
   a
   technique
   used
   to
   release
   pressure
   within
   the
   ears.
   You
   must
   close
   your
   mouth
   and
   nostrils
   by
   pinching
   the
   nose.
   Then
   blow
   your
   nose
   with
   little
   force
   such
   that
   the
   air
   is
   blown
   at
   the
   back
   of
   your
   nose.
   However,
   this
   must
   be
   performed
   with
   caution
   because
   it
   may
   damage
   the
   eardrum.
4. 
   Toynbee
   maneuver:
   This
   is
   done
   similar
   to
   the
   Valsalva
   maneuver
   where
   you
   close
   your
   nostrils
   and
   mouth,
   but
   you
   swallow
   air
   instead
   of
   blowing
   it
   out.
   You
   may
   swallow
   a
   mouthful
   of
   water,
   which
   is
   easier
   than
   swallowing
   air.
5. 
   Frenzel
   maneuver:
   This
   maneuver
   equalizes
   pressure
   in
   the
   middle
   ear.
   The
   nose
   is
   closed
   using
   the
   tongue,
   as
   well
   as
   the
   trachea
   is
   closed,
   so
   that
   the
   air
   present
   inside
   is
   pushed
   into
   the
   eustachian
   tubes.
   This
   maneuver
   is
   mainly
   done
   by
   scuba
   divers
   and
   free
   divers
   after
   they
   reach
   a
   certain
   depth
   in
   the
   waters.
6. 
   Yawning:
   Forceful
   yawing
   helps
   the
   eustachian
   tubes
   to
   open.
   This
   is
   repeated
   several
   times
   until
   the
   pressure
   is
   released.
7. 
   Using
   instruments
   • 
     Earplugs:
     Special
     earplugs
     are
     available
     in
     the
     market
     that
     regulates
     ear
     pressure.
     They
     allow
     free
     flow
     of
     air
     from
     the
     surroundings
     into
     the
     ear,
     which
     regular
     earplugs
     cannot
     do.
     Though
     the
     effectiveness
     of
     these
     earplugs
     is
     not
     well
     established,
     they
     are
     being
     used
     as
     a
     precaution
     because
     they
     are
     economical
     and
     do
     not
     pose
     any
     risks.
   • 
     Earpopper:
     This
     special
     device
     helps
     open
     the
     eustachian
     tubes.
     The
     instrument
     is
     inserted
     into
     one
     nostril
     and
     the
     button
     is
     pushed.
     This
     releases
     a
     gush
     of
     air
     into
     the
     nose
     and
     forces
     the
     eustachian
     tube
     to
     open.
     The
     fluids
     and
     pressure
     from
     the
     middle
     ear
     are
     drained
     out
     through
     the
     opened
     eustachian
     tube.
     You
     should
     use
     the
     ear
     popper
     device
     only
     when
     it
     is
     prescribed
     by
     a
     doctor.
   • 
     Otovent:
     Otovent
     is
     a
     small
     balloon-like
     device
     that
     helps
     open
     the
     eustachian
     tube.
     This
     device
     has
     a
     nozzle
     at
     one
     end
     and
     a
     deflated
     balloon
     at
     the
     other
     end.
     You
     must
     keep
     the
     nozzle
     close
     to
     one
     nostril,
     close
     the
     other
     nostril
     with
     a
     finger
     and
     blow
     air
     into
     the
     balloon
     and
     inflate
     it.
     This
     device
     produces
     the
     same
     effect
     that
     is
     produced
     by
     a
     Valsalva
     maneuver.
     This
     gadget
     is
     very
     useful
     for
     youngsters
     and
     those
     who
     are
     unable
     to
     perform
     the
     Valsalva
     properly.

How
to
get
rid
of
airplane
ears
in
children

Children
cannot
perform
maneuvers
that
adults
perform
to
release
pressure
in
the
ear,
so
you
must
follow
certain
methods
to
help
them
release
the
pressure.

• Infants
  and
  babies
  are
  to
  be
  fed
  with
  a
  bottle
  or
  a
  pacifier
  can
  be
  used
  so
  that
  the
  baby
  keeps
  swallowing
  continuously,
  which
  relieves
  pressure
  in
  the
  ears.
  It
  is
  important
  to
  keep
  them
  up
  straight
  while
  feeding
  to
  prevent
  choking.
• Older
  children
  can
  be
  given
  water
  to
  swallow,
  or
  they
  can
  be
  given
  hard
  candy
  or
  gum
  to
  swallow
  continuously.
• Use
  decongestants
  30
  minutes
  before
  the
  flight
  or
  descent.

What
are
airplane
ears?

Airplane
ear
is
ear

pain
caused
by
sudden
pressure
fluctuations
in
the
environment.
This
mostly
occurs
while
ascending
or
descending
during
a
flight.

• Airplane
  ear
  may
  lead
  to
  severe
  ear
  pain,
  barotrauma
  that
  is
  rupture
  of
  the
  eardrum. 
• Inflammation
  of
  the
  middle
  ear
  is
  called
  barotitis
  media
  or
  aerotitis
  media.

In
normal
conditions,
the
pressure
within
the
middle
ear
is
maintained
the
same
as
the
pressure
in
the
atmosphere
by
the
eustachian
tube.
With
sudden
changes
in
the
altitude
and
pressure
in
the
air,
the
eustachian
tube
collapses
and
the
pressure
builds
within
the
ear
tube,
causing
pain.

With
high
pressure,
the
force
exerted
on
the
eardrum
may
rupture
it.
Sometimes,
the
pressure
within
the
middle
ear
may
drop
than
the
outside
pressure
and
sucks
the
eardrum
inside.
All
these
changes
cause
stretching
of
the
eardrum
and
eustachian
tube
and
result
in
severe
ear
pain,
loss
of

hearing,

vertigo,
and

tinnitus.

What
are
the
treatment
options
for
airplane
ears?

There
is
no
need
for
active
management
for
airplane
ear
because
it
heals
with
time.
However,
if
the
pain
persists
certain
treatments
that
stabilize
the
pressure
within
the
eustachian
tubes
are
to
be
done.

Medical
treatments

The
use
of
nasal
decongestants
in
the
form
of
a
pill
or
a
nasal
spray
decreases
the
formation
of

mucus
in
the
nose
and
eustachian
tube.

So,
the
tubes
are
free
to
clear
the
pressure
and
fluids
the
buildup
inside
the
ear.
It
is
recommended
to
take
medications,
such
as
nasal
decongestants,

acetaminophen,
or

ibuprofen,
30
minutes
before
flight
or
descent.

Surgery

Usually,
surgical
intervention
for
an
airplane
ear
is
not
indicated.
Even
mild
cases
of
eardrum
perforations
may
heal
on
their
own.

In
rare
circumstances,
an
office
treatment
or
surgery
may
be
required.

• Myringotomy
  is
  a
  small
  procedure
  that
  involves
  making
  an
  incision
  in
  the
  eardrum
  to
  equalize
  air
  pressure
  and
  drain
  fluids.
• This
  may
  be
  followed
  by
  the
  insertion
  of
  a
  narrow
  tube
  to
  keep
  the
  middle
  ear
  pressure-free.