Help with ears hurting while on plane?

Question

I get really bad ear ache while on planes. Ive tryed popping them and sucking sweets but it doesnt really have much impact. does anyone of any other ways to stop ear ache while on planes?

I dont know where abouts to submit this Qiestion so I just put it in here.

Answer 1

Emma, this is an excellent question. To those who haven't had an ear block, they have no idea how incredibly painful the situation can be. I've flying jets for over 20 years; hopefully I can help:
It's possible you have small Eustachian Tubes, or that you happened to have some congestion at the same time you needed to fly. If you have chronic sinusitis, or colds, you'll probably have to see your doctor.

There are several solutions:
1- The most obvious one is don't fly when you're stuffed up. If you can change your flight, you're seriously better off doing so.
2- If not possible, try this on initial descent: tilt your head back (this stretches the tubes, and forces them open), and swallow hard a few times. You can also do this with liquids,ideally water-see below.
3- If that fails, and you assert that chewing gum isn't working, you can do what military aircrews are trained to do. The "Valsalva Maneuver". This is tilting your head back, again, pinching your nostrils, and GENTLY blowing through your nose. You might have to do it a few times. For 90% of ear-blocks, this will clear it.
4- I highly recommend you carry a nasal-spray decongestant. "AFRIN" is the one that most USAF Flight Surgeons recommend to aircrews. If you STILL are having trouble clearing, I would not hesitate to use it-and have on a few military missions.
As you descend, and the outside pressure builds, it will be harder and harder to clear your ears-and more painful when you do so. This is why you need to do this as soon as you feel the plane descending. Another reason that your tubes won't clear could be mucus drying out-aircraft interiors are very dry. You should be drinking plenty of water, the swallowing will help, and avoiding alcohol. You should obviously avoid any foods/drinks that you have even a mild allergic reaction to.
Finally, if all this is failing and the pain is becoming unbearable, DO NOT SUFFER IN SILENCE. You should not hesitate to light a flight attendant know. They can alert the aircrew who can ask for an altitude clearance for a "physiological incident". They will climb back up, and then descend slowy to give your Eustachian Tubes time to clear.
(When I was 15, I was taking flying lessons, and had a flight scheduled even though I had a bad cold. My father, a retired enlisted aircrew member, strongly suggested I cancel; being anxious to build my hours, and well being 15, I went up. The flight went fine until we started descents for pattern work. The pain was enough to bring tears to my eyes. I gutted it out, stupidly, and when I came home told my Dad. He ended up having to drive me up into the mountains, so the pressure would ease up enough for me to clear my ears. )

Answer 2

If the normal methods don't work and you don't have a cold or other nasal blockage you probably have Eustacian Tube Dysfunction.

The Eustacian tubes lead from the middle ear to the back of the throat. When pressure changes you usually have to force the pressure to equalize by popping your ears, yawning, chewing gum or sucking sweets. If these methods don't work quickly you may have some sort of inflamation or blockage of the Eustacian tubes. This could be on one side or both sides.

At any rate, this is something that needs to be looked at by your doctor. Only he or she can identify the cause and recommend a proper course of treatment.

The treatment for this problem depends upon the root cause. Your doctor will need to determine whether your Eustachian tube dysfunction is due to a throat, nose or sinus problem. The treatment will vary depending upon the root cause, but may involve antibiotics, nasal sprays, decongestants and/or antihistamines. Only occasionally is surgical treatment required. This involves making a small cut in the ear drum and placing a tiny plastic grommet tube into the cut. The hole in the grommet tube allows air to pass into the middle ear, thus functionally "replacing" the Eustachian tube. This procedure is performed using local anesthesia.

Answer 3

Here are a few ways to try. Yes chowing gums works. But you can also hold your nose and blow though your nose and hold it. it that does not work do it again and then shallow. You can try moving your jaw around also. IF they don't work and you don't have a cold or something have your doctor look at your ears. I hope you fix it and I know how much it hurts.
I can tell you that one thing worse is doing pressure checks on a aircraft on the ground. Ouchhhhhhhhhh . Have a good day.

Answer 4

Chew Gum

Answer 5

Boston's answer is spot on, but I should add that you must get this problem fixed as there is a very real danger of bursting an ear drum and doing permanant damage to your hearing.

Answer 6

Try chewing gum

Answer 7

You need to equalize the air pressure,try pinching your nose and blow at the same time with your mouth open.

Answer 8

chewing gum does help