What to do if ears hurt after an airplane? Beginners who first used this transport often panic from this condition. Although in reality this phenomenon is quite explainable and is not so rare.
Causes
If you have a headache after an air flight, your ears are stuffy or your breathing is hard, do not worry in vain. You can resort to some simple ways to solve the problem.
Why is this happening? Rising too high, a person finds himself in a zone of high pressure. But his intracranial pressure remains unchanged. It is because of this difference that various symptoms appear, such as pain in the ears and a feeling of congestion.
The eardrum, which acts as a kind of barrier between the skull and the environment, is most affected. It is slightly pressed inward, which leads to a feeling of congestion.
How expressed this feeling will be depends on the properties of the Eustachian tube. In cases where it is slightly narrowed, unpleasant symptoms appear more intensely. The size of the Eustachian tube is affected by runny nose, swelling, inflammation of the middle ear, as well as the presence of a foreign object inside.
That is why doctors often advise giving up flights during colds and inflammatory pathologies. In such a situation, it is advisable to first recover, and only then go for tickets.
Flattened ears on the plane: what to do?
If after landing you encounter a similar problem, do not worry, but simply do a few simple manipulations that are necessary to clean the ear canal.
In some cases, to eliminate an unpleasant symptom, it is quite enough to simply portray a yawn or a sip. If this does not help, and the ears after the plane still hurt, use the recommendations of doctors:
- Valsava procedure. This method is extremely simple. All you need to do is hold your nostrils tightly and grip your lips. Then try to carefully blow so that air does not pass through the mouth. True, this should be done very carefully so as not to accidentally damage the membrane.
- Toynbee exercise. Such a procedure usually helps those who have stuffed up ears after an airplane. For her, too, you need to close your nostrils and hold your breath for a short while. Now try to portray a few sips, without changing the position.
Sometimes another simple method helps - to open your mouth wide and freeze for a couple of minutes.
Traditional medicine
If you have stuffed up ears after the plane and it doesn’t pass, use some pharmacy tool. Usually, doctors in such situations recommend the use of vasoconstrictor drops. Very effective in the fight against pain of this nature are drugs Tizin and Xymelin. The mechanism of action of these drugs is simple: they reduce swelling of the mucosa, so that the feeling of congestion disappears.
True, you should keep in mind that such drugs can provoke addiction. So, if you have to use the plane regularly, try to solve the congestion problem differently. Otherwise, very soon you simply can not do without special medications.
In addition, there are sprays that help to completely clear the nasopharynx from the developed mucus. One of the most popular remedies is Afrin, an inexpensive but effective medicine. True, it is advisable to apply it before the flight, and not after it.
If all else fails
If your ears hurt after the plane, and the exercises do not help you, alternative medicine may come to the rescue. Sometimes a brewed tea bag held to your ear can help. True, caution should be exercised during the procedure and do not apply hot tea leaves to the skin.
At home, you can also use hydrogen peroxide or olive oil. To do this, lie on your side, instill the selected product in the left ear and freeze for a couple of minutes. Then you need to roll over so that the fluid flows out. Edema will come down with it.
If an adult's ears hurt after an airplane, a bandage dipped in warm water can be applied to his ear for several minutes. Only water should not drain from the fabric, which can get inside. And under no circumstances use boiling water for this.
You can also use a method well known to everyone since childhood - to breathe over hot potatoes. Having cleaned the nose, you can remove the swelling of the Eustachian tube. Such inhalation should last no more than 5 minutes.
Do I need a doctor
According to otolaryngologists, the fact that after the plane ears are sore or congestion is felt is a completely normal occurrence. So most often there is no need to see a doctor. But if this symptom does not disappear for several days and no home remedies bring the desired result, it is still better to visit a specialist.
Do not endure intense pain, which cannot be eliminated even with the help of pharmacy drugs. Anxiety should cause other problems, such as severe sudden hearing loss. In addition, you should not delay a visit to the doctor if, after the flight, you notice even slight bleeding.
Prevention
To prevent the occurrence of severe headache and stuffy ears, you should refrain from flying during a cold. In such a situation, it is much better to change tickets and continue treatment at home.
Just before landing on the ground, it is undesirable to sleep. Ask the stewardess to wake you up about half an hour before arriving at the airport.
Before you board, buy special ear plugs. They can be purchased at any pharmacy, as well as in nearby stores or directly at the airport. It is best to use them before takeoff and landing.
In addition, it is best to take sour chewing gum or sweets on the plane. Ordinary swallowing movements will quickly eliminate puffiness. If you didn’t have one with you, ask the stewardess.
In addition, be sure to stock up on a bottle of mineral water. Drinking in small sips is also able to prevent the occurrence of a problem after landing.