What are some good ways to prevent pressure building up in your ears during a flight in an airplane?

Question

As i am very paranoid about ear drums bursting i have asked this question pleae help me out .

Answer 1

Chewing gum during the take-off and landing helps me.

Answer 2

I always chew gum.

Here is what the experts say:

Pressure and the pain it causes regularly ruins the experience of airplane travel for thousands of people, but it need not be so. Many people are also concerned about the pain their children may suffer when traveling by airplane. There is help for them too!
Hearing Protection for Flying and Travel
Ear Plugs for Pressure, Active Noise Reduction Earphones for Sound.

Ear plugs offer the safest, most reliable solution to ear pain cause by rapid pressure changes. The products on this page work well for most people by slowing the movement of air into and out of the outer ear, giving your inner ear more time to adjust to the change in air pressure. All of the earplugs also will reduce the noise level for a more comfortable flying experience all around.

Reducing the effects of flying on your ear
You can do a number of things to reduce the effects of flying on your ear. Most of these help to help keep your eustachian tube open.

The eustachian tube does not open effectively when you are sleeping. Make sure you are awake before the plane begins its descent, which may start up to an hour before it lands.

Yawn, chew gum or suck on a hard sweet to encourage your eustachian tube to open.

Keep swallowing, using a glass of water or another drink, but not alcohol. Do this regularly; every 15 to 30 seconds if you need to. If this does not clear your ears, carry out the 'Valsalva manoeuvre': pinch your nose between your finger and thumb, and gently blow air down it with your mouth closed, without releasing the air. If you hear or feel air going into your ears then your eustachian tube is working well.

Make sure you are not dehydrated and that you have had plenty to drink. Do not drink alcohol.

Flying may be uncomfortable if you have a cold. When you get a cold or other infection around the nose and throat, the lining of the eustachian tube is swollen and gets blocked more easily. If you have to travel, ask your GP (family doctor) or local pharmacist for advice and ask about decongestants you can use. Decongestants reduce inflammation and relieve the blocked sensation. Many GPs recommend you use a decongestant spray about 20 minutes before you land. It is important not to use the spray for more than five days in a row.

Some people have reported that earplugs called EarPlanes® have helped them to fly comfortably. EarPlanes® are earplugs designed for flying. They have a small ventilation tube down the middle, which slows down the pressure change in the eardrum when the plane is pressurised and depressurised. However, so far, there has been no medical study to prove that EarPlanes® help people who normally get severe ear pain when flying. The use of ordinary soft earplugs is not recommended. You can buy EarPlanes® from RNID Sound Advantage (see "Buying equipment from RNID" for contact details) or try your high street pharmacy.

Good luck in your travels!

Answer 3

chewing gum helps the ears popping, don't worry about ear drums popping many ppl don't even do stuff like chewing gum and are fine. but chewing gum does help and can keep oyu pre occupied, maybe read a book or do some puzzles etc. so you are as worried.
have a nice flight=]

Answer 4

Do you know how babies survive this? They have such small ear drums. My doctor has adviced me that babies should be either bottle or breast fed. It is the sucking motion that prevents the ear drum from getting blocked. Sucking a lolly pop, chewing gum, or sipping from a straw bottle should do the trick, try it!

Answer 5

Chew gum. I fly pretty often for work and this helps me every time. I also work on the 31st floor of ym building and if the elevator goes straight up with no stops my ears pop if i make chewing motions.

Answer 6

Use the ear plug that the airlines usually supply you with. And when you feel the hurt or a vaccum feeling, swallow hard, that really helps. Chewing gum is also a good way.

Answer 7

Chew gum or suck on a lozenge or hard candy during the flight. Then when you land, to decompress, close your mouth and hold your nose and blow. Your ears will pop but you won't do any damage.

Answer 8

well, if your mobile phone can record videos take a video of your brother or some friend yawning and replay it on the plane once you feel pressure in your ear!

Answer 9

chew gum or suck on candy
during landing or during flight pinch your nose together and blow hard your ears should pop

Answer 10

I guess that putting cotton in your ears would do the job!