Air plane and my ears?

Question

I was on an airplane last week and my ears felt pressure and pain during liftoff and landing. Why is this?

Answer 1

This is because of the low altude and going up to 33.000 feets up in the air and next time you fly bring gum with you so your ears wonlt pop

Answer 2

More pressure higher up.

Was this your first time flying?

Answer 3

I understand your pain...I've got very sensitive ears because of a hearing issue, and if I don't take the proper measures before/during/after the flight, I'll have extreme pain in my ears for up to a week. Try using earplugs ("Earplanes" are AMAZING), chewing gum during take-off and landing, swallowing saliva constantly, or drinking from a juice box with a straw (the straw is the important part). Good luck in the future!!

Answer 4

Your ears felt like that becuase the air pressure was getting htiner and you're not use to it so you ears get "plugged up"

Answer 5

it is called Pressure?? because during liftoff the pressure inside the plane is greater than the pressure outside the plane so next time you go flying try to take some gum to chew on believe me it will help out. a nice example would be shaking a bottle of pop. when there is too much pressure inside the bottle the pop flys out. same concept with the air plane without you flying out lol

Answer 6

because.... I don't know, happens to me also, same when I go down in very deep water.

Answer 7

That is very normal it is the pressure that effects the inner ear..You could be getting a cold or allergies and than it is much worse..Some people never get it ,some people get it all the time .It is usually good to have something to drink or swallow or try to relieve that pressure ..I heard to hold your nose and blow out that usually works for me...

Answer 8

Here's an answer I provided for a similar question, if you're interested in the biological reason for the pressure.

Your middle ear has trapped air in it. The Eustachian tube links the middle ear with the nasopharynx (cavity behind the nose). The Eustachian tube is normally closed, but allows small amounts of air through to equalize pressure in the ear.

Although airplanes cabins are pressurized, they are not pressurized to the same pressure we experience on the ground. The pressure experienced inside of a pressurized airplane is called "cabin altitude". Although the aircraft is flying somewhere around 35,000 feet, the cabin altitude is usually around 5,000 feet. This is significantly higher than most departure points (unless you are in the mountains). If you depart from an airport at sea level, your ears need to adjust for the pressure between sea level and approximately 5,000 feet. This means that air needs to escape from your middle ears to equalize the pressure.

The Eustachian tubes generally stay closed until the differential pressure is enough to force the air out. You may experience a crackle or pop as the air is escaping.  You'll also feel the pressure relieve when the air escapes. The opposite is true when an airplane descends - the cabin altitude becomes lower (ambient pressure is higher). You now have a higher pressure around you than what's trapped in your middle ear (yes, this is one time when there really is a vacuum between your ears). Air needs to get from your nasal cavity into your ears to equalize the pressure. The Eustachian tubes should open enough allow air through.

If the Eustachian tubes fail to open, you'll experience pain and pressure.  You can try to force the Eustachian tubes open by yawning or swallowing. You can also try the Valsalva technique: plug your nose and then GENTLY try to blow air through your nose. This may create enough pressure on the Eustachian tubes to open them and allow the pressure in your ears to equalize. CAUTION: Do NOT attempt the Valsalva technique if you have a cold. You may drive mucus into the Eustachian tube, which can lead to an ear infection!

On a similar note, if you have ever flown with a cold, you may have found it impossible to equalize the pressure, no matter what you do. This is because the nasal passage is plugged with mucus, which also prevents the Eustachian tubes from properly venting. This can cause ear pain (sometimes severe) or temporary hearing loss.

The same is true for air trapped in the sinuses when you have a cold. The trapped air is at a different pressure than the ambient air, causing pain and possibly infection.

Answer 9

Do you have a cold? A cold, or a stuffy nose/sinus is usually why adults feel ear pain during takeoff or landing, but it can happen to anyone any time.

During takeoff, the cabin pressure reduces and any trapped gas in your body expands and needs to find a way out. Trust me, when you do this in a pressure chamber, it can get awfully smelly! So be understanding when someone farts after takeoff ;). Most people don't usually get pain after takeoff, but it is possible.

During descent, the cabin pressure increases again. This can lead to problems with ears especially, as the pressure needs to equalize on both sides of the ear drum, and can lead to a lot of discomfort. In severe cases, it can perforate or tear the ear drum. The ear drum will heal though.

During either climb or descent, chewing, swallowing and generally moving your jaw around can help equalize the pressure in your ear. During descent, you can try the valsalva technique as described above.

Practice it on the ground. Close your mouth, hold your nose closed, and gently try to blow through your nose. You'll feel your eardrums move (they flex outwards). This is what you can do if it hurts during descent. Don't do it too hard.

Answer 10

It's usually because of the Air Pressure, you know the Air pressure changes at a very fast speed you might feel that when you swallow you hear a popping sound, and that is your ears. This is from a site, When inflating your ears, you should not use force. The proper technique involves only pressure created by your check and throat muscles.

If you have a cold, a sinus infection, or an allergy attack, it is best to postpone an airplane trip.

If you recently have undergone ear surgery, consult with your surgeon on how soon you may safely fly.

Answer 11

It has something to do with how high the altitude was as you were flying. there was more pressure put on your ears because the air pressure was increasing also

Answer 12

because the higher you get the more pressure there is in the air!

Answer 13

A lot of people are affected by that to some degree. It has to do with the air pressure increasing and decreasing. It helps if you chew gum during take-offs and landings.

Answer 14

its because you are used to the pressure down here where you are now and i sudden change like a very hight hill drop, elavator ride, or even plain ride can be painful  and you ears feel like they are clogging very quickly!

the air up there is exremly thick compared to sea level and that is also why people have trouble breathing up there util they adjust which also may take a while!

i hope i helped!

Answer 15

It's because the air gets thinner and your goin up really high really fast

Answer 16

Answerer #1 is wrong and he has it backwards.  The higher you fly, the LESS air pressure there is.  #2 has made up a new word so who knows what he is talking about.  The reality is the when a modern airliner takes off and begins to climb, it also starts to pressurize the cabin.  The highest airline cabin is the equivalent of a plane at 8,000 feet.  What you are experiencing is the changes in cabin pressure as this takes place.  'Popping you ears or chewing gum will eliminate  that effect until you start to descend  and then the increase in pressure as the cabin returns to normal can cause the same sort of feelings and the same methods are used again to eliminate that.  Sorry you are not used to flying.

Answer 17

YOU HAVE VERY SENSITIVE EARS

Answer 18

the air pressure changes

Answer 19

The pressure change. My ears do that too. It hurt so bad one time I cried.

Answer 20

chew gum eucaliptus

Answer 21

i think its something to do with the altitude changing.

a good way to get over this is to chew chewing gum while you are taking off and landing.

Answer 22

When you take off in an airplane, the air pressure decreases as you ascend. The air trapped in your inner ear needs to escape and equalize the pressure between your inner ear and the atmosphere. The air escapes through the eustachian tube, a small passage between the inner ear and back of the nose/throat. This equalization of pressure is that pop you feel. The same thing happens when landing, but in this case, air pressure increases and air needs to get into the inner ear where the pressure has adjusted to the lower pressure during flight.

Also, Because the pressure in the aircraft is reduced gradually to a safe level, rather than achieved in one go. So your ears pop as they respond to this gradual change