REVIEWS OF HOTEL EXECUTIVE CLUB LOUNGES, KIDS CLUBS AND MORE.
Have you ever yawned on a plane and noticed your ears suddenly "pop"? Yawning might feel like an ordinary thing, but it can actually help with blocked ears. In this article, we explain how yawning works to unblock ears and why it is such a handy trick during flights.
When you yawn, several muscles in your face and throat engage in a coordinated movement. This includes the muscles around your jaw and the back of your throat. These muscle movements help open your Eustachian tubes, which are the small tubes that connect your middle ear to the back of your nose and throat.
The Eustachian tubes are essential for regulating the pressure inside your middle ear. Under normal conditions, they stay closed, but they open briefly when you swallow, chew, or yawn. When these tubes open, air can flow in and out of your middle ear, which helps equalise the pressure between your ear and the surrounding environment.
This equalisation process is the reason why your ears might "pop" or feel like they have cleared up after you yawn. The pop sound is the result of the pressure inside and outside your ear becoming balanced, allowing your ear to feel more comfortable.
Yawning can be an incredibly effective way to relieve the discomfort of blocked ears caused by changing air pressure in an aeroplane cabin, especially if you are flying at high altitudes or during takeoff and landing when pressure changes are the most significant.
While yawning can be highly effective for many people, it is not always a one-size-fits-all solution. If yawning alone does not seem to relieve the pressure or unblock your ears, don’t worry. There are plenty of other techniques you can try. Here are some of them;
Swallowing - Swallowing helps activate the muscles around your throat, which can help open your Eustachian tubes. If you are not chewing gum or eating something, try swallowing a few times to help relieve pressure.
Chewing gum - The act of chewing increases the frequency of swallowing, which encourages your Eustachian tubes to open more often. If you are not a fan of gum, sucking on candy or lozenges can have the same effect.
The Valsalva Maneuver - To perform the Valsalva Maneuver, pinch your nose shut, close your mouth, and gently blow air out of your nose. This forces air into your middle ear, which can help equalise the pressure.
Yes, yawning is completely safe and is one of the most natural and easiest ways to manage blocked ears. It does not involve any special tools, chemicals, or techniques, and it can be done as often as you like without any risk.
Unlike some other methods, like using decongestants or nasal sprays, yawning does not come with any side effects, so you can rely on it throughout your flight without concern.
Yawning is a simple but highly effective way to unblock your ears when you are flying. It helps open your Eustachian tubes, which in turn helps equalise the pressure inside and outside your ears, giving you relief from the discomfort.
Yawning alone might not always do the trick, but it is a great first step and can be used in combination with other techniques like swallowing, chewing gum, or the Valsalva Maneuver.
We are a family of 4 - mother, father and two children. Our aim is to travel the world and review all travel opportunities to help other families.
If you want the latest information on the best Hotel Executive Club Lounges, Hotel Kids Clubs and other travel information, be sure to sign up for our free newsletter full of tips and great travel ideas.
