Most people will feel pain and discomfort in their ears that can only be alleviated by their ears popping at some point. Known as ear barotrauma, this is a perfectly normal sensation to feel in certain environments. The resulting feeling occurs due to a change in pressure between your eustachian tubes and the outside world. Here’s what you need to know about how to pop your ears and whether popping ears is safe.
Barotrauma occurs as a result of a change in pressure. Anyone who has flown in an airplane knows the sensation of your ears becoming blocked when declining in altitude. This same sensation can be experienced when scuba diving or when driving up a mountain.
The eustachian tube connects your middle ear to your throat. Normally, the pressure inside your ear is the same as the pressure outside your ear. When the pressure changes, your eustachian tube becomes blocked due to the creation of a vacuum inside. This is why you feel uncomfortable. In the worst possible cases, you may even experience hearing and balance issues.
Before looking into the different ways of how to pop your ear, you may be wondering: is it safe to do so in the first place? Popping in the ear happens all the time. Every time you chew and swallow, a small air bubble moves up through the eustachian tube in either ear. Popping ears without medical intervention is perfectly safe, and there are even some over-the-counter remedies that aim to help with this. Only if various strategies for how to pop ear tubes don’t work will you need to get in touch with a doctor. In extreme cases, surgery may be required to drain the build-up of fluids and to equalize the pressure within the ear.
Figuring out how to make your ears pop is easy because your Eustachian tubes open already multiple times per day naturally. Here are some different ear popping techniques to try if you’re experiencing a blocked sensation inside your ears.
Figuring out how to make your ears pop is easy because your Eustachian tubes open already multiple times per day naturally. Here are some different ear popping techniques to try if you’re experiencing a blocked sensation inside your ears.
Figuring out how to make your ears pop is easy because your Eustachian tubes open already multiple times per day naturally. Here are some different ear popping techniques to try if you’re experiencing a blocked sensation inside your ears.
Perform the Valsalva maneuver by taking in a deep breath and pinching your nose closed. Close your mouth and attempt to blow air through the nose. Avoid blowing too hard as there’s a small risk of accidentally rupturing your eardrum.
Perform the Valsalva maneuver by taking in a deep breath and pinching your nose closed. Close your mouth and attempt to blow air through the nose. Avoid blowing too hard as there’s a small risk of accidentally rupturing your eardrum.
Perform the Valsalva maneuver by taking in a deep breath and pinching your nose closed. Close your mouth and attempt to blow air through the nose. Avoid blowing too hard as there’s a small risk of accidentally rupturing your eardrum.
Pinch your nose closed and use your tongue to make a clicking sound. Try to make a “K” sound with the tongue until your eustachian tubes reopen.
Certain devices help to clean the ears. If the ear popping maneuvers above have been ineffective or you cannot perform them, try these over-the-counter devices:
There are medications available, such as decongestants, that travelers use to prevent their ears from popping when flying, but these are only semi-effective.
Figuring out how to pop your ears is relatively simple and won’t require a visit to a doctor. If the problem persists, you may need to seek out your primary care physician, who will then examine the condition of your ear. In most cases, barotrauma goes away on its own. If you already know how to pop ears and need to see a licensed hearing professional, do it with EarPros.
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