# blocked ears and landing in an airplane **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 13, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-ears-and-landing-in-an-airplane/168393 "2003-04-13T04:25:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-ears-and-landing-in-an-airplane/168393/1 "2003-04-13T04:25:30Z")
Has anyone got some answers to how to stop that excrutiating pain that sometimes happens when you land in a plan? My sister’s boyfriend has it every time, won’t go to a doctor and it puts him off flying. I need an answer for purely selfish reasons - I’m getting married in August and they are coming to the wedding, I don’t want anything to stop them! ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-ears-and-landing-in-an-airplane/168393/2 "2003-04-13T04:36:35Z")
He doesn’t need a doctor unless none of the following works and the pain is still excruciating: Yawn, swallow, chew gum, do the “magic ear pop”, and take decongestants. [http://www.sinuscarecenter.com/bareraao.html](http://www.sinuscarecenter.com/bareraao.html) > [@](#): > > How to Unblock Your Ears > > Swallowing activates the muscle that opens the Eustachian tube. You swallow more often when you chew gum or let mints melt in your mouth. These are good air travel practices, especially just before take-off and during descent. Yawning is even better. Avoid sleeping during descent, because you may not be swallowing often enough to keep up with the pressure changes. (The flight attendant will be happy to awaken you just before descent). > > If yawning and swallowing are not effective, unblock your ears as follows: > > Step 1: Pinch your nostrils shut. > Step 2: Take a mouthful of air. > Step 3: Using your cheek and throat muscles, force the air into the back of your nose as if you were trying to blow your thumb and fingers off your nostrils. > When you hear a loud pop in your ears, you have succeeded. You may have to repeat this several times during descent. > > Many experienced air travelers use a decongestant pill or nasal spray an hour or so before descent. This will shrink the membranes and help the ears pop more easily. Travelers with allergy problems should take their medication at the beginning of the flight for the same reason. > > Decongestant tablets and sprays can be purchased without a prescription. However, they should be avoided by people with heart disease, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, thyroid disease, or excessive nervousness. Such people should consult their physicians before using these medicines. Pregnant women should likewise consult their physicians first. ---
**Author:** ![Bean\_Counter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bean\_Counter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bean_Counter)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-ears-and-landing-in-an-airplane/168393/3 "2003-04-13T04:45:51Z")
Good link Duckie, though I have one word of caution that it did not explicitly make: > [@](#): > > Step 3: Using your cheek and throat muscles, force the air into the back of your nose as if you were trying to blow your thumb and fingers off your nostrils. This should be done **GENTLY** or you risk rupturing an ear-drum. I have also found stretching my head to each shoulder and massaging the spot under my ears and behind the jaw can help relieve some of the pressure. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-ears-and-landing-in-an-airplane/168393/4 "2003-04-13T09:47:21Z")
**Cecil Adams** on [What’s going on when your ears pop?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_081b.html) and a Staff Report on [Why do my ears hurt when I fly in a pressurized jet?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpressur.html) ---
**Author:** ![barb\_b](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@barb\_b](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barb_b)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-ears-and-landing-in-an-airplane/168393/5 "2003-04-13T12:13:32Z")
I don’t know how to make the link look pretty, but try this site: [http://www.cirrushealthcare.com/earplanes.htm](http://www.cirrushealthcare.com/earplanes.htm) I’ve used these (Earplanes) and they work wonderfully. In combination with the Earplanes, I also take 2 sudafed a half hour before boarding and 2 shots of nasal spray directly before boarding. This was recommended by my ENT doctor. I have a lot of trouble with my ears on planes and these help me. ---
**Author:** ![Latino\_Yoshi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Latino\_Yoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latino_Yoshi)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blocked-ears-and-landing-in-an-airplane/168393/6 "2003-04-13T16:37:21Z")
Always have a bottle of water on hand. When drinks are being offered during flight, always get a botte of water. Swallowing is definitely the best method of equalizing the pressures felt, but when your mouth gets dry, swalling can become near impossible.