Many of us experience ear pain while flying, an unpleasant but common occurrence. But have you ever wondered why it happens?
Understanding the cause can help prevent it, making your flight more comfortable.
TikTok’s Doctor Michael, who debunks ‘bad health advice’ on the platform, explained that ear pain during flights is “pretty common”. “It’s caused by this tube that connects the back of your nose with the inner ear. That’s called the eustachian tube,” he clarified.
If your ears “popping” during a flight, it means your inner ear pressure is being ‘equalised’. You can also relieve this pressure yourself by “swallowing or holding your nose and breathing against it”, according to the doctor.
This technique, known as the Valsalva manoeuvre, involves closing your mouth, pinching your nose and exhaling as if you’re inflating a balloon. It can help unclog the eustachian tube.
Another method suggested by Doctor Michael is to open your mouth “really, really wide” and breathe in. “If this doesn’t work, you’ve probably got something called eustachian tube dysfunction,” he warned.
This can occur if you’ve had a cough or cold and are very congested, causing the eustachian tube to “close over”. This means that if you’re on a plane and try to equalise the pressure, you won’t be able to.
If the tube in your ear remains closed, the pressure will continue to build and it “will be getting more and more painful,” warned Doctor Michael. For those who have had a cold and are congested before flying, he recommended a few pre-flight measures.
Firstly, he suggested using eucalyptus oil in boiling water to inhale the steam, which can help “open up the eustachian tube”. For a more “long lasting” solution, Doctor Michael advised using a steroid nose spray (a spray in each nostril, twice a day) for three to four days before flying.
“That will ensure any inflammation in this Eustachian tube settles before you actually go on the plane”. Many individuals resonate with this issue, as evidenced by their comments. “This is me. That’s why I hate flying,” one person shared.
Another expressed gratitude: “Thank you! I’m sure I look like a lunatic sometimes. The pain is insane.” A third person added, “This is me! ! So painful, had it for years.. I will try all this. Thank you! “.
Should these methods not alleviate the problem, it’s advisable to consult a GP or an ear, nose, and throat specialist.