Easy fix for annoying part of air travel, according to a pilot
Taking a holiday is a lot of fun, but the act of getting on a plane and flying to your destination can get tiring pretty quick.
And one of the worst parts of air travel? Having your ears pop during take off, so you have to spend the rest of the flight unable to properly hear anything.
Thankfully, there's a quick way to fix it.
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There's nothing worse than dealing with popped ears. Getty Images/iStockphoto
eSIM travel company Airalo chatted with pilot William Hosie to get the inside scoop about popping ears, from someone who has to deal with it multiple times a day.
The culprit? Air pressure in the cabin.
"Cabin pressure changes as you climb or descend in the plane," he explained.
"When the plane is at 35,000 feet, you're breathing air in the cabin as if you're at 6,000 feet.
"The air is thinner and the air pressure is less, which is why some people have problems with toothache, and of course ears."
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Pilots have to deal with popped ears on a daily basis. Getty Images/iStockphoto
William said the first thing you should do to try and clear your ears is to gently blow. them out.
"Holding your nose, closing your mouth and trying to blow gently, will equalise the air pressure that is around you," he said. "However, passengers should be careful not to damage their eardrums when doing this."
A burst eardrum can be very painful and take weeks to heal.
You can also avoid your ears popping in the first place, Will said, by chewing gum or sucking on a lolly during take-off or landing.
Try chewing gum during take-off or landing. Getty
This "will help equalise the air pressure around you and for your ears to remain at a normal level."
If you're travelling with young kids, it's a good idea to give them a dummy or a bottle to suck on during take-off, for the same reason.
Will also noted on plane journeys that go to higher altitudes, like the Himalayas, the effects of the cabin pressure will be worse.
He also recommended to avoid flying if you have symptoms of a cold or a blocked nose.
