Sometimes, especially if there is a sudden change in pressure (while on a plane or underwater), the Eustachian tubes become clogged giving you the feeling that your ears are plugged. The Eustachian tubes connect the middle ear to the pharynx and have the function of absorbing liquid and controlling the pressure of the ears. If plugged ears are bothering you, read on to learn how to fix it.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Quick Remedies
Step 1. Open your mouth slightly, as if to yawn
Open it as you would to say "ahhh", and try to yawn. Keep opening your mouth in an "O" shape slowly, until you get a yawn.
Stop if you feel your ears pop. Do it again if the first yawn didn't work. You notice it when the pressure stabilizes. Not only will you hear a snap, but you will hear much more clearly than before
Step 2. Recline your head
Looking at the sky will put the Eustachian tubes back in the right position. Push your jaw outward. This movement can induce yawning which opens the Eustachian tubes and frees the ears.
Step 3. Chew gum
If yawning doesn't work, you might try chewing gum or even pretend to chew it. The movement will help the inner ear pressure to become like the outer pressure. Like yawning, the chewing gum method can also be used as a preventative measure. Do this when you are about to change altitude to prevent disturbance.
Chew large gum. We are talking about something like Big Babol and not small confetti like Daygum. The jaw movement needs to be large to open the throat and balance the pressure in the ears. If you don't have anything to chew on, try faking the movement exaggeratedly, as if you're literally trying to eat something that's bigger than your mouth
Step 4. Suck on a hard candy or throat lozenge
Just like when you chew gum, the movement of eating a candy, mint, or other similar pill normalizes the pressure. Don't chew it, though! You are not just eating a candy, you have to suck it for a while to be able to create the effect of pressure.
Step 5. Drink a large glass of water
Swallowing involves the simultaneous combination of several effective techniques in one movement. Pour yourself a nice glass of water, tilt your head to align the Eustachian tubes and drink the water in large gulps to equate the internal pressure with the external one. If the movement is correct, you should hear a "pop" and the pain should stop.
Step 6. If you have water in your ears, use your fingers very carefully to create some pressure inside them
If you've managed to get the water out but experience that irritating pain / pressure sensation inside your ear, then you can use gravity by bending sideways at your hips and placing your ear parallel to the ground. Place a fingertip over the ear canal (not inside!) And move it back and forth like a plunger. This movement gently changes the pressure inside the ear and allows them to unblock, letting trapped water escape.
Do not thread never a finger in the ear canal. You are not trying to eliminate the water mechanically, just to change the pressure. If you stick your fingers in the back of your ear, you could cause damage.
Step 7. Implement the Valsalva maneuver
It may sound complicated, but the concept behind this technique is to apply counter pressure to the Eustachian tubes.
- Pinch the nose with your fingers, close your mouth and gently blow from the nose. The ears should open allowing the pressure to normalize.
- Don't put too much force into it. The Valsalva maneuver should not be done vigorously, and doing it too often can irritate and inflame the trumpets, making it more difficult to release them.
- Some people find it helpful to lean forward while performing this maneuver. Lean forward as if you want to reach out to touch your toes. Alternate the Valsalva maneuver with very large air sucks. Continue in this way until the ear pressure stabilizes.
Part 2 of 4: Relieving a Congestion
Step 1. See a doctor
If your ears are constantly plugged, you may be suffering from severe sinusitis that causes chronic inflammation. Your doctor may suggest a nasal spray or antibiotic. In the meantime, take steps to reduce earache or infection.
If you suspect that there is a temporomandibular joint disorder (a problem with the joint that connects the jaw to the skull), it may be a good idea to consult a dentist or medical professional who specializes in the oral cavity
Step 2. Get a prescription for a special device
If you are unable to uncork your ears on your own, talk to your doctor about this tool. It is specific to help you normalize the internal pressure with the external one and thus to open the ears. This is an expensive device that can only be sold by prescription.
Step 3. Rinse your sinuses regularly
If you are prone to sinusitis, suffer from allergies or have recently passed a cold, your ears may be closed and you may have problems with balance. therefore it is necessary to unlock them. To solve the problem, deal with congestion by regularly and gently rinsing your sinuses with warm salt water.
- For this purpose there are neti-pots, which can be filled with distilled water and a little salt. Lean your head on one side, over the sink, and pour the water into one nostril, letting it flow into the nasal cavity and out through the other nostril. It will be a little weird the first few times, but it's a great way to unblock sinuses.
- If your sinuses are so clogged that water cannot flow through them, the pressure change caused by trying to pass the fluid may be enough to relieve congestion and decrease the sensation of closed ears. Worth trying.
- Make sure you clean your nasal irrigator after each use and only use sterile, distilled water to avoid introducing bacteria into your body.
Step 4. Take an antihistamine or decongestant before symptoms get worse
Be proactive and protect yourself from this annoying feeling. If you suffer from sinusitis very often, don't wait for severe pain from pressure in your ears and find a way to unblock them right away. Manage the problem of closed ears by treating the underlying condition (sinusitis) with over-the-counter medications.
Step 5. Take a warm bath and submerge your ears
If you are sick and want some relief, take a warm bath and lie down so that your ears are soaked. Recline your chin and swallow vigorously a couple of times and see if your ears open. The change in pressure should normalize the internal pressure and the steam from the hot water should relieve congestion. If you still have a feeling of pressure after the bath, bend over to one side so that your ear is parallel to the ground and use your finger to create some pressure as described above.
If you have an ear infection, avoid soaking your ears as it may make it worse. The steam from the hot bath should still give you some relief
Step 6. Blow your nose gently
This action is basically a version of the Valsalva maneuver with the added advantage of unblocking the stuffy nose. Use a handkerchief and close one nostril at a time while gently blowing on the other. This should normalize the pressure.
It is important to be especially gentle. Blowing your nose as if it were a trumpet could make the situation worse and make the need to unblock them even stronger
Part 3 of 4: Home Remedies
Step 1. Gargle with hot water and salt
Make the water as hot as you can tolerate without getting burnt. Add a teaspoon of salt and mix to dissolve it. Use a full cup of water to gargle several times by waiting 1 minute between each, but take a 30 minute break before another session.
Step 2. Try a mixture of alcohol and vinegar
If you suspect that the pressure imbalance in your ear is due to excess earwax, it may be helpful to try this method first, and then use other techniques to balance the pressure later. Here's how to do it.
- Mix equal parts vinegar and 70% isopropyl alcohol. This solution softens the ear wax and unblocks it.
- Gently tilt your head to one side and insert a couple of drops of solution with a dropper.
- Keep your head in this position for a few seconds before returning to an upright position. The solution should flow out of the ear. Repeat with the other.
Step 3. Rinse your ear with some water
Even though the solution should evaporate thanks to the alcohol, it's still a good idea to rinse it off. Suck up some water with the dropper and then drop a couple into your ear. Wait a few seconds before tilting your head away and encouraging the liquid to flow out.
Step 4. Eat something very spicy, like jalapeño pepper
It's certainly not the best of flavors, but it will definitely loosen the mucus (capsaicin is believed to have this property). Blow your nose and move your jaw as the mucus begins to dissolve. You may feel your ears pop out.
Part 4 of 4: Alternative Remedies
Step 1. Try Craniosacral Therapy
This is a (rather controversial) skull massage that was developed in the 20th century and aims to "rebalance the natural rhythm of the cerebrospinal flow". Although used with varying degrees of success in treating a large number of ailments, this massage can prove useful in correcting pressure decompensation within the Eustachian tubes, which creates closure of the ears.
It is important to know that many of the claims made by advocates of craniosacral therapy are dubious. But if you're desperate and the other techniques don't work, trying doesn't hurt
Step 2. Consult a chiropractor
If the ear discomfort is due to problems with the neck or jaw, a good chiropractor may be able to perform maneuvers to fix the problem.
Step 3. Try acupuncture
It is a technique used to treat a little bit of everything, from pain in the ligaments to that of the jaw, to even inflammation of the ear. See an acupuncturist and discuss your problem with him if you have tried everything and your ears are still closed.
