If the Eustachian tube is blocked or cannot open fast enough to equalize this pressure, a vacuum forms in the middle ear. This sucks the eardrum inward, causing the tell-tale pain and muffled hearing.
Safe travels—and happy (pain-free) landings!
To understand the remedies, it helps to understand the mechanics. Your middle ear is an air-filled cavity connected to the back of your nose and throat by the .
Don’t wait for the stabbing sensation. The best time to act is during (the last 30–45 minutes of the flight), when pressure changes are most dramatic. However, these tricks work for takeoff and mid-flight discomfort too.
Medically known as barotrauma , this condition occurs when there is an imbalance between the air pressure in your middle ear and the environment around you. Fortunately, in most cases, it is preventable and easily treatable.