How to Avoid Ear Pain When Flying

Flying can be a hassle on it's own without the ear pain. Between security checks and delayed flights it's the last thing most travelers want to deal with. However, ear pain while flying can happen in about one-third of all fliers. If you fly while suffering from a cold or allergies, your chance of having ear pain will increase. Although ear pain can while flying be a real nuisance, there are ways to avoid it.

Things You'll Need

• Nasal decongestant spray
• Earplugs

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Instructions

• 1

  Take a nasal decongestant several hours before your flight. Ear pain can be made worse by sinus pressure so using a decongestant can help to avoid the pain.

• 2

  Swallow, yawn, or move your jaw periodically when you are on the plane. This will help to equalize the pressure in the Eustachian tubes and prevent pain. The change in pressure in the inner ear is the reason for the pain.

• 3

  Insert earplugs during the flight. This will help to keep the pressure of the inner ear unchanged upon ascent and descent. Make sure to keep them in the entire flight to avoid pain.

• 4

  Pinch your nose and exhale with force through your nose while keeping your mouth closed. This is known as the Valsalva maneuver, according to Howard Francis, associate professor of otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins University, and should help equalize pressure and get rid of pain.