That plugged, stuffy, underwater feeling in your ears after a landing is incredibly common. It’s called "airplane ear" (barotrauma), and it happens when the air pressure in your middle ear doesn’t equalize quickly enough with the cabin pressure. The Eustachian tube—a tiny canal that connects your middle ear to the back of your throat—gets stuck shut.
If blowing air feels too aggressive, try this method, which uses swallowing to open the tubes.
These techniques gently force air through the Eustachian tube. how to unclog ears after flying
Start with a yawn and a swallow. Move to a gentle Valsalva. Take a hot shower. And if you know you're prone to this, take a decongestant one hour before your next descent. Your ears will thank you.
These are specialized earplugs with a ceramic filter that slows the rate of pressure change. That plugged, stuffy, underwater feeling in your ears
To unclog your ears after a flight, you must equalize the air pressure in your middle ear by opening your Eustachian tubes. This "full" feeling occurs because these tubes can't always keep up with rapid altitude changes during takeoff or landing. Immediate Post-Flight Techniques
Most "airplane ear" resolves within a few hours. However, you should seek medical attention if: You experience severe, sharp pain. You notice fluid or blood draining from the ear. The muffled hearing lasts for more than 48 hours. You experience intense vertigo (dizziness). If blowing air feels too aggressive, try this
If you have known allergies, taking an antihistamine can prevent the congestion that blocks the ears.
That muffled, "underwater" feeling after a flight is incredibly common. It’s caused by , which happens when the air pressure in your middle ear doesn't match the pressure in the cabin. If your ears didn't "pop" on the way down, 1. The Valsalva Maneuver This is the most common technique.