How do you unblock ear pressure after flying?

Self-care steps — such as yawning, swallowing or chewing gum — usually can counter the differences in air pressure and improve airplane ear symptoms. However, for a severe case of airplane ear, you might need to see a doctor.



Unblocking ear pressure after flying (also known as “airplane ear” or barotrauma) is very common and usually resolves on its own. Here are the most effective methods, from quick fixes to more involved solutions:

Immediate Techniques to “Pop” Your Ears (Valsalva Maneuver & Variations)

These work by opening your Eustachian tubes, the small channels that connect your middle ear to the back of your throat and equalize pressure.

  1. Valsalva Maneuver: Pinch your nostrils shut, take a mouthful of air, and gently try to blow the air out of your closed nose. You should feel your ears “pop.” Crucial: Be gentle. Blowing too hard can cause damage.
  2. Toynbee Maneuver: Pinch your nose and swallow. Swallowing helps activate the muscles that open the Eustachian tubes.
  3. Frenzel Maneuver: Pinch your nose, close the back of your throat (as if straining to lift something), and make a “K” or “Guh” sound. This is a more controlled technique used by divers and pilots.
  4. Yawning or Chewing: Open your mouth wide in a big yawn or chew gum vigorously. The motion of your jaw can help open the tubes.
  5. Swallowing: Sip water, suck on hard candy, or pretend to swallow.

For Longer-Lasting Relief

If the blockage persists for hours or more:

  • Steam Inhalation: Take a hot shower or lean over a bowl of hot water with

People Also Ask

Most of the time, the pressure should clear up a few hours after you're back on land, she says. If it lingers longer—into the following day, for example—you might have a buildup of fluid behind your ear that isn't ventilating properly. For that, you'll probably want to see a doctor.

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Airplane ear occurs when the air pressure in the middle ear and the air pressure in the environment don't match, preventing your eardrum (tympanic membrane) from vibrating normally. A narrow passage called the eustachian tube, which is connected to the middle ear, regulates air pressure.

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Signs and symptoms of Airplane air include discomfort, pain, and fullness in ear, and mild to moderate hearing loss in acute cases. Moreover, for severe cases, affected individuals may experience severe pain, moderate to severe hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and hemotympanum (severe form).

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So, here are the most common ways pilots ease it:
  1. Yawning. One of the most common techniques for coping with ear popping is yawning. ...
  2. Chewing. Chewing is another practice that helps pilots to relieve ear popping. ...
  3. Flexing your jaw. ...
  4. Toynbee Technique. ...
  5. Swallowing. ...
  6. Valsalva Technique.


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When an airplane climbs or descends, the air pressure changes rapidly. The eustachian tube often can't react fast enough, which causes the symptoms of airplane ear. Swallowing or yawning opens the eustachian tube and allows the middle ear to get more air, equalizing the air pressure.

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Ear pods do not seal well enough to keep the air in the ear canal from experiencing a pressure change. just chew gum to keep the pressure equal between the outer and inner ear.

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To ease discomfort, you can take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), or an analgesic pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).

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Changes in air pressure during flying can cause ear-drum pain and perforation, vertigo, and hearing loss. Barotitis is inflammation of the ear drum as a consequence of air pressure changes.

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