Clogged Ear After Flying

Clearing A Clogged Ear

Before clearing a clogged ear yourself at home, make sure you know why your ear is clogged in the first place. This will help you decide whether you should try clearing it yourself with a home remedy, or seek your doctor's advice.

If your problem is caused by excess ear wax, there are many safe ear wax removal products available to you that will provide clogged ear relief. These come in the form of saline ear cleaners and plastic plungers which shoot a stream of saline into your ears.

Ear candles are another option for clogged ear relief, although many medical professionals don't think it helps much. In this procedure, a candle is placed in the ear and lighted. Proponents believe this softens the wax and sucks it closer to the ear opening. Once again, however, there has never been a study done that proves ear candles work, and they are not approved by the FDA. If you're still interested in ear candling as an alternative however, click on ear candles.

If you are in pain, it's probably because you have an ear infection or impacted ear wax. In this case, you should seek professional medical advice right away. Your doctor may also use several methods or instruments available in his or her office to remove impacted ear wax immediately. The doctor may also prescribe medications or ear drops to help reduce pressure in your ears and relieve swelling. Follow the instructions carefully. If the cause is fluid buildup from a severe ear infection, you may have to go back several times to have them drained. Clearing a clogged ear is can be uncomfortable, depending on the severity of the infection.

A clogged ear may be caused by a number of conditions, most commonly

• allergies
• an ear infection,
• jaw tension,
• sinus pressure,
• wax buildup.

Clearing a clogged ear after flying Many people feel as if they have a clogged ear after flying. This feeling results from changes in air pressure. Here are some simple ways to clear the clog.

• Chewing gum. Continue chewing after the flight if your ear still feels clogged.
• Drink some water.
• Pinch your nose and gently blow, but be careful you don't do it too hard or you could damage your eardrum.
• Swallow a few drops of Tabasco sauce or hot salsa (hot to the taste but not heated). This tends to expand your nasal passages which may also help unclog your ear canal.
• Take a decongestant, even if you don't have a cold. The pseudoephedrine in the medicine will clear things up. You can also try a nasal spray with a decongestant.
• Yawning allows air to flow into your middle ear, equalizing the pressure to that of the outside air. It also helps to pull your earlobe down as you yawn.

If your ears still feel clogged an hour or so after your flight, try an over-the-counter ear cleaner.