Most of us have experienced clogged ears as the plane ascends into the air and later descends to the ground. How can you avoid this uncomfortable part of flying?
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Do not sleep when the plane is taking off or descending to land. People believe that sleeping during take-offs and landings will help them pass through the phase pain-free, but it is to better to stay awake and practice the above mentioned techniques to avoid suddenly waking up in the middle of the flight with severe ear pain. Devote a few minutes to help the ears adjust to the air pressure, and then you could sit back and enjoy the rest of your flight. You could also ask the aircraft staff to wake you up when the plane starts to descend. If you’re already awake, you must suck and swallow to encourage air to get into the middle ear to avoid pain. Taking a deep breath in the style of breathing in before a yawn is also effective in this case.
The act of yawning and swallowing also stimulates muscles that help unblock the Eustachian tube especially during landings. Some airlines offer candies to their passengers before a flight to help manage the issue. Next time, wait for the flight to take-off before popping those sweet treats into the mouth. For babies, it is a good idea to nurse them or give them a drink at the time of take-off and descent to encourage them to swallow.