How To Pop or Unclog Ears Clogged After Flying With a Cold

In addition to jet lag and dry air, another common body complaint fliers experience is "airplane ears"—the clogged or blocked feeling in your ears due to cabin pressure changes. Clogged ears can be particularly troublesome if you have a cold. The medical term is "ear barotrauma," which may be a good description of the pain and discomfort the condition typically causes.

If you are congested, you might be more prone to experiencing airplane ears after flying. Despite popular advice, doctors do not advise you to try pinching your nose and blowing to relieve airplane ears. However, there are ways to relieve clogged ears—from moving your mouth muscles to using a decongestant. Read on to learn more.

What Causes Ears To Clog After Flying?

Ears clog because of pressure changes. Your middle ear, which houses the eardrum, is connected to the back of the nose and upper throat by the Eustachian tube. This tube stabilizes the air pressure levels between your nose and ear, and it opens and closes throughout the day.

"When we're flying, however, there's a rapid change in the barometric [air] pressure, which causes a collapse of the eustachian tubes and interferes with the normal airflow from the nose to the ear," Hae-Ok Ana Kim, MD, an otolaryngologist at Columbia Doctors Midtown and associate professor of otolaryngology — head and neck surgery at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, told Health.

Getting on a plane while you're sick with a cold or other head infection that triggers nasal congestion makes those changes in air pressure even worse. Active ear or sinus infections can cause pain or injury since it's hard to equalize the pressure in your ears.

How To Unclog Ears After Flying With a Cold

You can try two effective methods to pop or unclog your ears post-flight. Be gentle when trying these techniques.

1. Use the Frenzel Maneuver

The Frenzel maneuver is a method of equalizing pressure in the ears people have used since the late 1930s. You pinch your nose, close your mouth, and keep them closed while attempting to make a letter "K" sound.

2. Move Your Mouth Muscles

Moving your jaw muscles by chewing, yawning, or swallowing water or another beverage can help reopen the Eustachian tubes. If you're traveling with a baby or toddler and you suspect (or they tell you) their ears are plugged up, have them sip juice or water or use a pacifier to get those mouth muscles going. Chewing gum is often a quick way to help your ears pop.

How Long Ears Stay Clogged After a Flight

The pressure usually clears up after a few minutes or hours. However, if it lingers longer—into the following day, for example—you'll want to see a healthcare provider.

Risk Factors for Clogged Ears

Some individuals, like infants and toddlers with smaller Eustachian tubes that are more horizontal than adults', have a higher risk of experiencing clogged ears. Other risk factors include having a cold, sinusitis, or allergic rhinitis and sleeping when pressure changes occur on the plane.

Complications of Clogged Ears After a Flight

Ear barotrauma can have potential complications. These complications are problems such as:

• Acute ear infections
• Chronic tinnitus
• Hearing loss
• Ruptured eardrums
• Vertigo

How To Prevent Airplane Ear

It's possible to prevent airplane ears in the first place. You can do this by:

• Having earplugs in when your flight takes off or lands, which helps to slowly equalize pressure
• Rescheduling plans to travel by plane if you have an infection that affects the ears or sinuses
• Sleeping only when the plane is in the air—not when it's landing or taking off
• Taking a decongestant 30 minutes to an hour before a flight as appropriate and with healthcare guidance

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

Other than when you have airplane ears that linger, consult a healthcare provider if you experience the following:

• Ear bleeding or drainage
• Fever
• Hearing loss
• Severe ear pain
• Vertigo

A Quick Review

Clogged ears can happen after a flight, but there are ways to resolve airplane ears. Some methods include moving your mouth muscles or using the Frenzel maneuver. Airplane ears can be preventable if you take measures including wearing ear plugs when your flight takes off or lands, sleeping only when the plane is in the air, and taking a decongestant 30 minutes to an hour before your flight.

If airplane ears happen, they usually go away on their own. However, see a healthcare provider if they linger or accompany symptoms like ear pain and drainage or fever.