Ears hurt on airplane rides?

Question

my ears hurt really bad ascending and descending during airplane rides. do you have any recommendations to lessen the pain? i know of chewing gum, is there anything else?

Answer 1

try plugging your ears with you fingers.  i have that problem too sometimes.

Answer 2

Try yawning and swallowing.

Answer 3

For take-offs and landings (the WHOLE way up, and starting from the BEGINNING, or TOP of descent), the best ways to alleviate ear pressure are to:

*Drink something

*Chew gum

*Yawn

*Suck on hard candy or mints

*Pinch your nostrils shut, take a deep breath in through the mouth, then (gently) blow as if trying to blow your nose

*Place hot damp towels (usually like the ones distributed to first and business class before take-off and landing to freshen up with - just ask a flight attendant for them) or paper towels that have been soaked in hot water and wrung out, at the bottom of two paper or styrofoam cups, then hold the cups over the ears

This last one is usually reserved for babies and small children, but can be used by anyone:

*Gently but with some pressure, rub your neck repeatedly from the chin to the base of the neck. This will cause a swallowing motion that will relieve pressure build-up in the ears.

If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Answer 4

that happens when air pressure changes quickly. My ears are exactly like that. Try chewing gum very loud, yawning, or just opening your mouth really loudly.

Answer 5

last time i was on a flight that happened to me, yeah gum doesnt work so well. in the airport stores they have all kinds of stuff for that. i bought these ear plug thingys they really helped. they also have these drops u can put in ur ear before your flight

Answer 6

u can buy special aeroplane earplugs for taking off/landing..although I think regular earplugs to the trick..something about gradually regulating the ear pressure ..google them...they helped my other half

Answer 7

if it throbs or effects your hearing you should get it checked out but i only know of chewing gum and exhaling

Answer 8

I have the exact problem..I also find that if I am riding in a high altitude, (horses) I have that same problem only not as bad.  Someone told me it is connected to sinus problems, that may be true because I do have sinus problems.  I have chewed gum and yawned etc, but nothing really helps till the plane lands or gets to the altitude that it was aiming for.  In other words , we just have to live with it.

Answer 9

swallow your saliva.....eat chewing gum, or pretend to eat chewing gum...that might help...

Answer 10

try yawning and if possible, do not ride planes when you have colds.

Answer 11

Oh isnt this the most painful experience. I suffer too. I find that it is worse when the plane ascends or descends very quickly. Descents that take say half hour, I can cope with much better. I now take a bottle of water with me and sip it often during these procedures. The airline sometimes provide pads soaked in Eucalyptus oil, which you sniff frequently, it apparently helps unblock the sinuses. (you could make your own pads they arent much bigger than a bandaid.) Chewing gum , yes,  its mainly the swallowing that helps. Sometimes I hold my nose, and blow hard, swallow,  then I find my ears 'pop' and that helps for a while. I wish you luck.

Answer 12

open your mouth and fake yawn. or suck a lolly pop...... but yawning works better!

Answer 13

This is a common side affect of riding on planes. What I understand of it is that as you go higher or lower in the air, the air pressure changes causing your ear drum to cave inward or outward. To relieve this pressure, all you have to do is let air flow, letting our eardrum bend back into its normal place. So chewing gum works sometimes, but also just opening and closing your mouth to let air up into your ear. Almost like yawning, that helps a lot for me. Don't ever stick your fingers in your ears, because that just makes it worse by farther pushing your ear drum. Otherwise I don't know any other 'urban myth' cures for ear pain. Hope this helps :)

Answer 14

This is due to the fast difference in pressure you are experiencing.. Yawn that will help. always does to me.

Answer 15

Go to the store and buy these special earplugs they are called Earplanes. They equal out the pressure in your ears so that it's not painful. They work great.

Answer 16

Try to make yourself yawn - it almost instantly releases some of the pressure. Swallowing also works. =)

Answer 17

swallow and make like a bubble face dat really helps

Answer 18

you can use ear plugs...also when you go death just plug your nose and blow out of it as hard as you can to clear them up so you can hear again.