Safely popping blocked Ears
We have all suffered from blocked or clogged ears. This can be experienced from pressure changes whilst driving a car, on a train journey or whilst you are flying away on holiday. Or in less glamorous times, whilst we are suffering from a cold. This can be an annoying and uncomfortable sensation so we have set out some tips below on some options you can try to relieve this feeling of blocked or clogged ears.
Blocked or clogged ears are caused when the pipes which connect the middle region of the ear to the back of the nose get blocked.
You can try ear popping techniques to help to unblock these pipes in the comfort of your own home. Ear popping is helps to balance the air pressure between the middle ear and outer ear.
Below are a few tips and tricks to help you unblock/pop your ears:
The motion of swallowing and chewing has been known to be effective in unblocking the ears (so reach for some chewing gum or start yawning)!
Yawning - if you are tired of your ears being blocked whilst travelling having a yawn every couple of minutes can help to unclog the ears.
Valsalva manoeuvre - take a deep breath and pinch your nostrils closed. Your cheeks must not be puffed out but should be either sucked in or in a neutral position. Then slowly blow air out of your nose. If there is any ear pain stop immediately as we do not want to burst your eardrum.
Toynbee manoeuvre - this method includes pinching your nose and swallowing with your mouth closed.
Ear popping is generally safe the first two methods mentioned above are the last invasive. Extra care must be taken when using the techniques that involve pinching the nostrils and blowing air out.
Commonly the Eustachian tube will self-correct after a few days without the need of the techniques mentioned. When your ears pop this is just your eardrum (tympanic membrane) moving back into place as the ear pressure corrects.