why do my ears pop on the areoplane

[ropeycart04]

why do my ears pop on the areoplane

[Hugh Spencer]

Somebody else may give you a more technical answer but when you board the plane the atmospheric pressure is balanced either side of the eardrum. When the plane is flying the pressure is adjusted to what it would be outside at 8000 feet which is much less than ground level so the body attempts to adjust and if it doesn't it can be extremely painful. When I was flying with the RAF there was no pressurisation so we were flying within much lower pressure so had to keep chewing something or keep swallowing to even up the pressure both sides of the eardrum. We couldn't and daren't fly with any congestion in the sinuses.

[ropeycart04]

thankyou.my daughter was in tears with pain.the popping hurt if she could get them to pop.i had the same problem.sucking sweets did nothing.we found yawning did help a bit but hurt.the steward gave us carvol in a class of little bit of water but still nothing,i thought maybe we needed our ears sringing!!it seemed that we were the only sufferers.the problem has put my daughter off flying again.she only flew back because she knew she going home.thanks again.

[Panic Button]

There is a tube from behind the ear drum to the throat called the Eustachian tube.
This is to equalise the pressure, and swallowing tends to open it to allow air to get through.

Opening the jaw wide repeatedly has a similar effect, but you do feel like a burk.

If you have a cold, mucus can obstruct the tube, which is why you were offered a decongestant inhalant. Well worth taking decongestant medicine before the flight if you know you are bunged up.

Pinching the nose, blowing gently and swallowing at the same time can force air through, but this can be dangerous if you blow too hard and the tube is blocked. This is known as the Valsalva maneuver.

You will feel your ears pop after take off painlessly, as the air forces its way out. The pain happens on descent as it is harder for the air to get back in.

Parents ofen worry because their babies cry on descent, but actually crying is the best thing the baby can do to open the tubes up.

[natalie_1982]

Ropey, for years (from when I was a small child) I suffered with this to the point I was scared of getting on the plane no amount of boiled sweets, chewing gum or water helped! The pressure would build and build until my head felt like it would burst and like I had knitting needles rammed in my ears and down my neck, for the first few days of the holiday it would still be painful until they popped.

HOWEVER!! This year I went to the Gambia and decided to try Earplanes which are little earplugs that you put in your ears when you get in the plane before take off, then take out when at full altitude and reinsert one hour prior to landing. I was sceptical as to whther they worked but they did! No pain!!! Also, once we'd got to full altitude I thought my ears would burst when I removed them, but they didn't and it was the best flight I have ever had. I think they are around �10 for adults, but you can also buy child ones too. They are soft plastic rubbery ear plugs with a little hole going through them that graduates the pressure through take off and landing.

Apparently you can buy them in Boots but I couldn't see them so I bought them online. I don't remember the name of the website but just googled "Earplanes". Good luck!

[ropeycart04]

wow.thankyou so much for your answer.at last i feel im not the only one and my daughters!!somebody actually knows what we went through.i will show my daughter your reply and hopefully this will reassure her as i really dont want to have to leave her behind :( she is 13 and when her mind is made up there is no budging her without arguments.thankyou.

[natalie_1982]

You're welcome :-)

It's a horrible thing to be frightened of the flights, because you end up spending the entire holiday fretting about the return journey! I hope you all have a fantastic time x