Things you should do during a flight to avoid ear congestion

One of the health problems that many passengers experience during landing is ear congestion. You should know that ear congestion happens due to air pressure imbalances, and if you have upper respiratory tract infections such as flu, you should be more careful. With some simple tips, you can avoid ear congestion.

You can experience ear congestion during fast descents while landing, where the cabin air pressure is not properly adjusted and your Eustachian tube is not balanced with cabin air pressure. During flights, you may witness people who take deep breaths and close their mouths, and pinch their nose to normalize middle ear air pressure. This is called the Valsalva maneuver and even if seems like a good way to avoid ear congestion, health professionals warn people that if it is not done correctly, it may cause high pressure in the ear due to the uncontrolled airflow and bacterial flow towards the middle ear.

How to get rid of ear congestion?

Chewing gum, yawning, and sucking candies will help your Eustachian tube to stay open. If you have medical conditions such as flu, consider not taking a flight. If you had to be in flight, you should use nostril sprays. Using nostril sprays half an hour before your flight may help your Eustachian tube to work properly and to avoid ear congestion. During take-off and landing make sure you and your children are awake, as you will be aware of congestion earlier. It is useful to be seated straight and consume water and beverages during flight, as drinking and swallowing would help your Eustachian tube and prevent ear congestion. If you are willing to perform the Valsalva maneuver, it must be done slowly and carefully. If you bleed from your ear and/or experience hearing loss even a couple of hours after your flight, you must consult a health professional.