Your Ears and Air Travel

While some people still have concerns about air travel, the fact remains that flying is the safest method of transport.

Every year, more than 2 billion people take to the skies for business or pleasure. The number of people who use air travel has more than doubled over the past 25 years thanks to its increasing accessibility. But flying isn’t always a positive experience because it subjects our bodies, particularly our ears, to pressure changes. Some people even avoid flying altogether because of bad experiences in the past.

The rapid changes in atmospheric pressure during a flight have some physical consequences on our ears. To understand why, it’s important to know that the higher we fly, the lower the atmospheric pressure is outside. Because of this lower pressure, the air inside the middle ear tries to gradually move outward, towards the lower-density atmosphere. This creates excess pressure in the cavity of the middle ear. Pressure changes are generally handled well by most people; their Eustachian tubes, which are small tubes that link the ear to the nose and throat, easily discharge the extra air. Most discomfort occurs as the airplane lands and the opposite process takes place.

As the airplane descends, the external atmospheric pressure gradually rises, putting internal pressure on the eardrum. At this point, the muscles around the Eustachian tube must be used to rebalance the pressures on either side of the eardrum. That’s why it’s often recommended to chew, yawn, swallow, blow your nose or move your jaw quickly during landing—these actions help to open the Eustachian tubes, rebalancing the pressure painlessly.

In fact, some people are more at risk of barotrauma, which is an inflammation of the ear caused by drastic changes in atmospheric pressure. Nasal congestion before the flight or a history of repeated otitis are examples of risk factors. If this is the case for you, it’s extremely important to try to open your Eustachian tubes multiple times during the flight, especially during landing. If you have nasal congestion or seasonal allergies, it may be wise to use decongestants before the flight. However, if you are feeling ear pain before your flight or have a fever or sinusitis, it is strongly recommended to see a doctor before travelling.

Finally, it’s worth noting that there are external factors that can explain why we feel symptoms on some flights but not others. The size and speed of the plane, cruising altitude and cabin pressure can all play a role. This means that while you may have felt symptoms on a previous flight, the same may not be true on your next trip.