Clogged Ears From Flying ((new)) -

Using an over-the-counter decongestant spray (like Afrin) about 30 minutes before takeoff and 30 minutes before landing can shrink the membranes in your nose and throat, making it easier for your ears to "breath."

Cabin pressure increases rapidly, sucking the eardrum inward. This is often the most critical phase for ear discomfort. Symptoms clogged ears from flying

Cabin pressure decreases rapidly, causing the eardrum to push outward. Pinch your nose and take a few sips of water

Pinch your nose and take a few sips of water. Swallowing while the nose is closed helps pull the tubes open. The air inside your middle ear becomes relatively

But during a flight’s ascent, the cabin air pressure drops quickly. The air inside your middle ear becomes relatively higher in pressure, pushing your eardrum outward. On descent, the opposite happens: the cabin pressure rises, compressing the air in your middle ear and sucking your eardrum inward. That stretch—the eardrum bowing like a trampoline under too much weight—is the pressure and muffled hearing you feel.

Panic started to set in. She tried the Valsalva maneuver , something her dad had once taught her: pinch your nose, close your mouth, and gently blow—like you’re trying to pop your ears, but without force. She tried it once. Nothing. She tried harder. A tiny, high-pitched squeak, but no relief.