We've all experienced it at some point: ear pain on the plane. But why does this happen, and how can you prevent it? Even though I fly very frequently , as a flight attendant, I still occasionally experience ear pain, but with this trick the pain disappears!
I was sitting in my crew seat, peacefully sipping coffee, when suddenly a crying child threw herself into my arms with ear pain. Or the man who asked for chewing gum during the landing. Or when a passenger placed cups filled with moist wipes on his ears. We all know the pain, but how does this happen?
What experience our ears during flight?
When the plane takes off, the air pressure in the cabin slowly decreases. On the ground, there is higher air pressure than in the cabin. This pushes the eardrum outwards. To equalize this pressure difference, air escapes through the Eustachian tube.
So, air goes from inside the ear to outside the ear. But when a plane descends, the opposite happens. The cabin pressure slowly increases, pushing your eardrum inwards.
What leads to pain?
Sometimes the Eustachian tube doesn't operate properly, for example, when you have a cold or have hay fever. In such cases, the mucous membrane in the Eustachian tube can thicken slightly, making it difficult for air to move through.
This leads to a lot of pressure on your eardrum and causes pain. During take-off, you usually experience less (or no) pain compared to descent because for your ears it's harder to suck in air than to let air escape from inside your ears.
Golden tip
In short, you experience ear pain due to the pressure difference in the cabin and your ears. How can you alleviate this ear pain, then?
Very simple, make the pressure difference disappear by opening the Eustachian tube. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as it sounds. But what can you try on your own:
- Chewing
- Swallowing
- Yawning
- Blowing your nose
Okay, I admit, you probably knew that already. That's why I'm sharing this golden tip that always works for me: Take a deep breath, pinch your nose and keep your mouth closed. Exhale forcefully through your nose (while holding it closed, of course) and hopefully, you'll hear your ears gradually pop open.
It doesn't completely eliminate the pain, but it significantly reduces your discomfort. At least it does for me.
With this golden tip in mind, you can face your ear pain and you are ready for your next flight.
Enjoy your flight!
By: Rico Valkenborgh | November 23, 2023
The safest seat on the plane: 13A or 18C?
In the front, back, or middle of the cabin? An aisle seat, window seat, or middle seat? The safest seat on the plane: myth or reality? Let me explain.
A jetliner vanished from Earth: 10 years later, 3 intriguing theories about flight MH370
How can a massive Boeing 777 vanish from radar? And why has the plane never been found? Over 10 years ago, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 suddenly disappeared from radar. Countless theories circulate about what happened to the plane, none completely ruled out, as the puzzle remains unsolved. Read and go through the lens of 3 intriguing theories.
Why 100 ml? How 3 disasters shaped aviation security
Why am I not allowed to carry liquids larger than 100 ml in my carry-on baggage? Why can't my power bank be placed in the checked baggage of the airplane? And why is the cockpit door locked? Discover the role of historical incidents that paved the way for a safer sky.
Safety under pressure: Lessons from the 737 MAX
The Boeing 737 MAX was meant to be the flagship of the modern aviation industry, but it quickly became synonymous with one of the biggest scandals in aviation history. Should this plane have never taken to the skies? This is the story of the Boeing 737 MAX.
Mayday mayday mayday: a perfect emergency landing on water
The Hudson river landing in detail: Imagine you're on board an airplane, ready for a routine flight. You take off, and a few moments later, the pilot makes the announcement: "Brace for impact!" No, this is not fiction but actual reality. Get ready for an extraordinary story of an Airbus A320 making an emergency landing on the Hudson river.
Miscommunication kills 583 lives: The Tenerife Disaster
A 72-year-old woman was relieved to be able to tell the tale. For 583 others, this wasn't the case. How could two Jumbo Jets collide and leave the world in shock? Read on to discover the importance of clear communication in aviation.
Reactie plaatsen
Reacties