Sometimes when you are flying or your train passes through a tunnel you are not able to hear properly which makes you feel excruciating. To get relief from this you need to pop your ears. The Eustachian tube present in the ear is in charge of balancing the air pressure of inside ear with the air pressure outside the ear. Normally this tube is closed but opens when a person does some activity like swallowing, yawning or screaming. When the pressure becomes unequal your ear can pop temporarily, which can make your day too long by making you uncomfortable. In some cases it also causes pain. In this article, you will find some easy ways to pop ears.
Causes for Clogged Ears:
- Congested Sinus.
- Ear wax.
- Traveling by plane or in mountainous areas.
- After swimming.
- Due to pressure.
- Due to infection.
Symptoms:
- Itching
- Trouble in hearing.
- Loss of balance.
- Dizziness
- Pain
- Ringing sound in the ears.
Easy Ways to Pop Ears:
1. A Big Yawn to Pop Ears:
Yawning at workplaces or while talking to someone is not said to be good. But to pop ears, it can prove an excellent way, giving you fast relief from that uncomfortable feeling. Yawning helps to relieve the air pressure that has built up inside the ears.
Instructions:
- Take a big yawn by opening your mouth until the sound of ‘Ahh’ comes.
- Keep your mouth open in an O shape for a full yawn.
- If it doesn’t happen in the first try then understand the amount of pressure you need to apply.
- Repeat the process until your ear pops.
2. Chewing Action to Pop Ears:
Chewing a gum or something hard trigger a swallowing reflex which opens the Eustachian tube and normalizes the inside pressure of the ear with the outside pressure.
Instructions:
- You can take a candy or some hard food. Chew it properly.
- You can also chew a chewing gum.
- If at that time nothing is available, then you can just pretend the chewing action.
- Do it several times till your ear pops and the pain diminishes.
3. To Pop Ears Use a Nasal Spray:
The Eustachian tube connects the back of the nose with the middle ear. In the middle ear, the small bubble of air is produced which is necessary for maintaining the air pressure balance. Now, since both are connected a nasal spray can help to pop ears.
Instructions:
- Buy a nasal spray from a medical store.
- Position the tip of the spray on the nose and try to inhale it to unblock the Eustachian tube.
- You can make your nasal spray at home by mixing salt and water.
4. Hot Water Bath to Pop Ears:
A hot water shower not only relaxes you but also helps to pop ears by decreasing the pressure. The steam from the water can also help to relieve your congestion issues.
Instructions:
- Prepare hot water for taking a shower.
- Take a shower for at least 10 to 20 minutes. Make sure your ears are fully submerged.
- This will make you feel that the pressure on the ear has lessened.
5. Valsalva Maneuver to Pop Ears:
This can be one of the easiest method if done properly. This can be done anytime and at any place. There are no equipments required to do this. The main idea of this method is to build a counter pressure on the Eustachian tube so that it opens up.
Instructions:
- Squeeze your nose and close your mouth.
- Try to exhale air gently through your nose.
- Remember do not put extra force as it can cause damage to the Eustachian tube and can block your ear canal.
- Repeat the process until the pressure becomes equal and your ear pops.
6. Finger to Pop Ears:
This is again a simple method to pop ears and does not require any types of equipment. There is a sense of pain if there is water in your ear. This not only makes your ear heavy but also you can’t hear anything clearly.
Instructions:
- Bend your waist sidewise until it becomes parallel to the ground.
- Use your finger for on and off motions.
- This will change the pressure in your ear and will remove the water.
- Don’t press the finger too hard on the ear as it can cause hearing damage.
7. Avoid Sleep to Pop Ears:
Sleeping for 8 to 10 hours a day can be good for health. But sometimes sleep can make you land in trouble. When you are traveling especially in some airways or in mountain areas you should avoid sleeping. When you are sleeping neither you are doing any chewing action, nor are you swallowing something. This increases the pressure on the inside ear, which in turn blocks the tube making you uncomfortable.
Instructions:
- Keep yourself busy to avoid sleep in places where pressure increases.
- You chewing something so that the pressure does not stay for long.
8. Drink Water to Pop Ears:
Drinking water changes the air pressure as it fills the throat with water. This will help to open the Eustachian tube and equalize the pressure. The drinking movement joins a number of powerful systems together.
Instructions:
- Take large gulps of water.
- Drink water of different temperatures. Start with cold water and end with lukewarm water.
- This will increase the chances of opening the tube and will equalize the pressure.
9. Swill Sinus to Pop Ears:
Congestive sinus is a result of cold or allergy. Sinus destabilizes the pressure in the ear and makes your ear feel heavy giving you a feeling to pop. You can sluice your sinus with the help of warm salty water.
Instructions:
- Take a neti -pot and fill it with warm water.
- Add a pinch of salt to it.
- Tilt your head and put water in one of the nostrils.
- The water will flow through the sinus pit and come out through the other nostril.
- Increase the pressure if sinus is very congested.
10. Gobble to Pop Ears:
The act of swallowing will make the Eustachian tube to pop and equalize the pressure. When you will swallow something pressure will be created inside which will open the tube.
Instructions:
- Try to swallow a hard food so that more pressure will be created.
- If you don’t have food, then you pretend to swallow.
Home Remedies to Pop Ears:
1. Vinegar and Liquor to Pop Ears:
The pressure in the center ear can be because of the ear wax that can block Eustachian tube. Mix equivalent amount of vinegar with 70% of liquor. Tilt your head and use a dropper to drop some solution in the ear. This will help to release the pressure.
2. Hot Water Gargle:
Take a cup of warm water and add a teaspoon of salt to it. Gargle with it as many times as you can. Make sure that water is hot enough. But it should not smolder within your mouth. Once you finish with a mug of water, then wait for 30 to 40 minutes before repeating it again.
3. Tea Tree Oil to Pop Ears:
This oil contains several antiseptic and antibacterial properties that can give you instant relief by popping your ear. This is a good remedy for sinus. Congested sinus can destabilize the pressure and block the Eustachian tube. Take a cup of boiling water and add a few drops of tea tree oil. Tilt your head on the side of clogged ear. The steam of the solution will give you instant relief.
4. Tonybee Maneuver to Pop Ears:
This method is similar to Valsalva Maneuver. In this method also you have to squeeze your nose, take a gulp of water. Try to swallow the water with your nose and mouth closed. This will help to balance the pressure.
5. Hop on One Foot:
This is the easiest method if you maintain balance. Stand on your one leg and tilt your head towards the clogged area. Now hop on while keeping your head tilted. This method can be used if water gets trapped in the middle of the ear.