Air travel can do some funny things to our ears, especially during ascent and descent. Our ears are very sensitive to sudden changes in air or water pressure, and will equalize pressure between the inside and the outside with the pop sound you’re probably familiar with. If your ears can’t equalize pressure, however, it can lead to pain and other complications in the ear.
Causes of a Stuffy Ear
A feeling of fullness or “stuffiness” in the ear can be caused by many factors, most particularly those related to the Eustachian tubes. Your Eustachian tubes are long passageways that connect the middle ear to the back of the throat. These tubes are sealed shut most of the time, but they will open to let air in or out to equalize pressure. The opening of these tubes produces the popping sound during takeoff.
Here are some common causes of a stuffy ear:
- Ear infection
- Congestion caused by allergies or respiratory illness, such as the common cold or COVID.
- Sinus infection
- Eustachian tube dysfunction, when the Eustachian tubes are blocked or inflamed and unable to open to equalize pressure
- Earwax buildup in the ear canal
Risks of Flying with a Stuffy Ear
If you’re already experiencing a stuffy ear on the ground, flying may be risky. Sometimes, people don’t have a stuffy ear until they’re on the plane, and then the pressure and discomfort rears its ugly head when the air pressure changes dramatically—this often happens for people who have been sick recently but are no longer symptomatic.
If your Eustachian tubes are already struggling to open and shut to equalize pressure, and then you experience the sudden change in pressure that comes with flying, it could lead to:
- Discomfort or pain
- Bursting your eardrum
- Ear infection (if you didn’t already have one)
- Ringing in the ears
- Hearing damage
- Dizziness or vertigo
All of these are common symptoms of ear barotrauma, appropriately nicknamed “airplane ear.”
Things You Can Do to Relieve Ear Pressure
First, we recommend chatting with your doctor before your flight. If you’re still sick, especially with a sinus or ear infection, it’s not recommended that you fly at all, as your chances of complications from ear barotrauma are significantly higher.
If your doctor clears you to fly, here are some techniques you can use to help soothe your ears and open up your Eustachian tubes:
- The Valsalva maneuver
- Taking a decongestant, such as Sudafed, before and during your flight, according to package instructions
- Chewing gum
- Sucking on ice (ask the flight attendant for a cup of ice cubes) or hard candy
- Use EarPlanes or other pressure-filtering earplugs designed to regulate air pressure changes and relieve ear pain.
If you continue to experience a stuffy ear or if symptoms worsen during or after your flight, seek out an otolaryngologist (ENT). They can assess the health of your ears and Eustachian tubes and determine if there was any lasting damage. Call our team at Spartanburg-Greer ENT & Allergy today to get on the calendar.