The Sunday Mail
Most people have had the painful and annoying sensation of their ears feeling full or clogged and needing to pop.
The medical term for this is ear barotrauma.
Ear barotrauma usually happens when a person is sick or changing altitude, such as when they are flying on an airplane, driving up a mountain or descending at the beginning of a scuba dive.
What is this sensation and how can a person make their ears pop?
How to pop the ears
Popping the ears helps to open the eustachian tubes and regulate the pressure in the middle ear. There are many strategies people can use to help pop their ears safely and effectively:
Yawn
Yawning helps to open the eustachian tubes. Try forcing a yawn several times until the ears pop open.
Swallow
Swallowing helps to activate the muscles that open the eustachian tube. Sipping water or sucking on hard candy can help to increase the need to swallow.
Valsalva manoeuvre
If yawning and swallowing do not work, take a deep breath and pinch the nose shut. Keeping the mouth closed, try to blow air through the nose gently. It is best to be cautious when performing this manoeuvre because there is a small risk of rupturing the eardrum.
Toynbee manoeuvre
To do the Toynbee manoeuvre, pinch the nose closed and close the mouth, then try swallowing. Having a mouthful of water may make it a little easier.
Frenzel manoeuvre
To perform this manoeuver, pinch the nose closed and use the tongue to make a clicking or “K” sound.
Chewing gum
Chewing gum helps increase swallowing because it stimulates saliva production. Also, the chewing motion can also help to open the eustachian tubes.
Try special devices
There are devices available that can help to clear the ears. These are especially useful for people who are not able to use or perform the above manoeuvres safely or effectively.
There are three types of devices:
Special earplugs: These special earplugs claim to help to regulate the flow of air from the environment into the ear. It is not clear whether they are truly effective, but they are inexpensive and risk-free.
Otovent: The otovent and similar devices mimic the motions used in the Valsalva manoeuvre. To use it, insert the nozzle into one nostril. At the other end is a deflated balloon. Pinch the open nostril closed and blow up the balloon using the nozzle in the first nostril. This device can be especially helpful in children or other people who are not able to use the valsalva correctly.
EarPopper: The EarPopper is a prescription device that can help to open the eustachian tubes. Simply insert the device into one nostril, close the other and push a button. The device releases small puffs of air through the nose and into the eustachian tubes.
Many devices are available to help people pop their ears safely.
Medication
Seasoned travellers often take a decongestant when they fly. Both pills and intranasal sprays can work, though an older study by Trusted Source, a global knowledge bank, found oral medication to be more effective.
Taking the medicine 30 minutes before take-off or landing can help to shrink the mucous membranes in the nose and eustachian tubes, making it easier to clear the ears.
While flying, it is important to avoid sleeping during the descent and landing. It is more likely for the ears to become clogged at this point and infrequent swallowing during sleep may not be enough to clear them.
Infants sometimes find it difficult to clear their ears, as they are not able to intentionally swallow or pop their ears. Feeding (either at the breast or with a bottle) or providing a pacifier can help the baby suck and swallow in order to clear their ears. This may mean waking the baby during descent to avoid later discomfort.
When to see the doctor
Someone with clogged ears should see their doctor if the ears do not pop using these strategies. Anyone experiencing persistent pain or discomfort in their ear should contact their doctor sooner. — Wires.
