However, if the tube remains blocked for a prolonged period of time, fluid may collect in the middle ear space and cause an infection, a painful condition known as otitis media. Tubes that are blocked due to swelling, such as from a cold or allergies, will often reopen on their own once the swelling has gone down. A crackling or popping noise in one or both ears.Patients with this condition may hear an echo or a ringing in the affected ear, and may suffer a “full” feeling in the ear even though the tube is not blocked.īlocked Eustachian tubes may cause a range of symptoms, including: In some cases, the opposite occurs: the Eustachian tube remains open instead of closed (called patulous Eustachian tube). If the obstruction is not removed, fluid may begin to build up in the middle ear (a condition called serous otitis media) and can eventually result in a painful ear infection. The most common causes of Eustachian tube malfunction are blockages, such as earwax or foreign objects pressing against the opening of the valve. NOTE: Patients who have had a middle ear ventilation tube (PE tube) placed in their eardrum (tympanic membrane) should not need to follow any of these precautions. While chewing, you can hold your nose and blow gently toward the back of the throat while swallowing (known as the Valsalva Maneuver) if you feel pressure building behind your ears. Chewing gum. Chewing gum stimulates swallowing and encourages the Eustachian tubes to open.Yawning can also stimulate the Eustachian tubes to open, and can be done continually while landing. This will suck excess air pressure out of the middle ear.

Swallowing and yawning. If your ears “plug up” as the plane takes off, hold your nose and swallow while attempting to force air up to the back of the throat.

Travelers should use the nasal spray once according to package directions shortly before boarding, and again forty-five minutes before the plane is due to land.

Using nasal spray. Travelers should pack a plastic squeeze bottle of 1/4 percent NeoSynephrine or Afrin nasal spray in their carry-on luggage.

Taking a decongestant. People who have chronic Eustachian tube problems can prepare for air travel ahead of time by taking Sudafed tablets according to package directions the day before the flight.

Avoiding high-risk situations. People who are suffering from acute upper respiratory ailments, such as a common cold, severe allergies, or sinus infections, should avoid flying.

There are many ways people can prevent Eustachian tube problems associated with flying, including: Discomfort is more commonly felt as a plane lands, but can be uncomfortable at any point in a flight if the cabin pressure changes. When it descends, atmospheric pressure increases, decreasing middle ear pressure. Pressure changes occur rapidly during an airplane’s takeoff and landing procedures: when an aircraft takes off, the atmospheric pressure decreases, increasing middle ear air pressure. It is common for people who have Eustachian tube problems to have difficulty equalizing middle ear pressure when flying. Eustachian Tube Problems Related to Changes in Altitude If the Eustachian tube cannot open, a person may suffer hearing impairment, ear pain, a sensation of fullness in one or both ears, tinnitus, and other symptoms. When a person swallows or yawns, the Eustachian tube opens briefly, restoring air that has been absorbed by the middle ear lining and equalizing pressure in the ear. The middle ear is normally filled with air, allowing sound to flow through to the brain. The tubes are about an inch long, and the narrowest part is the end that connects to the middle ear. There is one Eustachian tube in each ear, connecting the middle ear to the back of the throat. This valve is called the Eustachian tube. The inner ear is sensitive to pressure changes and requires a valve that can open and close to equalize air and fluid imbalances. But if someone experiences a blockage in the ear, that delicate system is at best interrupted, and at worst, thrown into chaos. In fact, the part of the ear that we can see is just the tip of the iceberg-a complex system that begins with a sound and ends as a perception in the brain.

We rely on our ears to hear the tiniest of noises, but most of the time we don’t give these hardworking body parts much thought.

Auditory tube