If your ears feel clogged while flying, try yawning, chewing, or swallowing to help relieve some of the pressure that’s causing clogged ears.
These movements can open the eustachian tubes, which connect your mouth to your middle ear.
Wearing earplugs when you take off and land may also help relieve pressure and unclog your ears.
If your ears are still clogged after landing, try performing the Valsalva maneuver to help relieve pressure in the ears and sinuses. To do this:
- Pinch your nose and close your mouth.
- Slowly exhale, as if blowing up a balloon.
- Push down, as if having a bowel movement.
- If exhaling and pushing down don’t work, try swallowing instead.
If none of these natural remedies work, consider speaking with a pharmacist or healthcare professional about taking nasal or oral decongestant medications for your cold.
A doctor may also wish to examine your ears. Sometimes, ears can become clogged due to excess earwax. Treatments for excess earwax may include ear drops and microsuction removal.
Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP
Dr. Nicole Leigh Aaronson is an ABMS board certified otolaryngologist with fellowship training in pediatric otolaryngology. She currently practices in Wilmington, Delaware, and Deptford, New Jersey. She completed her residency at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut and her fellowship at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.