Gently blow, as if blowing your nose, while pinching your nostrils and keeping your mouth closed. Use the Valsalva maneuver during ascent and descent.You can suck on candy or chew gum to help you swallow. These activate the muscles that open your eustachian tubes. Yawn and swallow during ascent and descent.Long-term complications can rarely occur when the condition is serious or prolonged or if there's damage to middle or inner ear structures. Sleeping on an airplane during ascent and descent because you aren't actively doing things to equalize pressure in your ears such as yawning or swallowingĪirplane ear usually isn't serious and responds to self-care.A small eustachian tube, especially in infants and toddlers.Risk factorsĪny condition that blocks the eustachian tube or limits its function can increase the risk of airplane ear. You may also experience a minor case of barotrauma while riding an elevator in a tall building or driving in the mountains. Explosions nearby, such as in a war zone. Swallowing or yawning opens the eustachian tube and allows the middle ear to get more air, equalizing the air pressure. The eustachian tube often can't react fast enough, which causes the symptoms of airplane ear. When an airplane climbs or descends, the air pressure changes rapidly. A narrow passage called the eustachian tube, which is connected to the middle ear, regulates air pressure. CausesĪirplane 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. If discomfort, fullness or muffled hearing lasts more than a few days, or if you have severe signs or symptoms, call your doctor. If airplane ear is severe, you might have: Muffled hearing or slight to moderate hearing loss.Feeling of fullness or stuffiness in your ear.Moderate discomfort or pain in your ear.SymptomsĪirplane ear can occur in one or both ears. However, for a severe case of airplane ear, you might need to see a doctor. Self-care steps - such as yawning, swallowing or chewing gum - usually can counter the differences in air pressure and improve airplane ear symptoms. You might get airplane ear when on an airplane that's climbing after takeoff or descending for landing.Īirplane ear is also called ear barotrauma, barotitis media or aerotitis media. Airplane ear (ear barotrauma) is the stress on your eardrum that occurs when the air pressure in your middle ear and the air pressure in the environment are out of balance.
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