Air travellers often experience mysterious ear pain, particularly during descent, which tends to intensify as the plane descends and is most acute during the landing phase, especially for those grappling with a cold.

While the discomfort typically subsides post-landing, people often seek relief strategies, such as closing their mouths and puffing or turning to anti-allergy and anti-puffiness medications.

This discomfort stems from a physiological occurrence related to the Eustachian tube—a slender passage connecting the nasal cavity and middle ear. The tube is crucial in equalizing air pressure between the middle ear and the external environment.

Situated at the back of the nasal cavity in the nasopharynx, the Eustachian tube typically opens during actions like chewing or swallowing, ensuring the equilibrium of air pressure.

However, inflammation, oedema, or obstructions in the tube can hinder its normal function, causing an imbalance between the middle ear and outside air pressure. This imbalance leads to negative pressure in the middle ear, resulting in a sunken eardrum.

Prolonged imbalance may cause fluid or blood seepage into the tympanic cavity, giving rise to secretory otitis media and related symptoms like ear pain, tinnitus, ossification, and hearing loss.

Common triggers for this condition include colds, prolonged sitting, flying, or diving, most likely occurring during rapid air pressure changes during take-off and descent—termed in-flight otitis media or aviation otitis media.

Does this mean we should avoid air travel altogether? Not! To ensure a comfortable flight experience, consider the following tips to navigate the challenges and truly savour your journey:

1. Engage in more mouth movements: Stay hydrated during take-off and descent by drinking water, munching on snacks, or chewing gum. Encourage children who may not chew gum to drink water or milk, enhancing the swallowing action to alleviate ear discomfort.

2. Employ the pinch, close, and puff technique: This involves pinching the nose, closing the mouth, and blowing gently to exert greater force than regular swallowing, aiming to open the Eustachian tube.

3. If discomfort persists, especially for those more sensitive to ear pain, consider using earplugs—sponge or aviation earplugs are suitable alternatives. Simply plugging your ears with your fingers can provide relief without earplugs.

4. Avoid flying with a cold if possible. If unavoidable, carry nasal sprays to shrink mucous membranes and alleviate symptoms related to ear discomfort.

Finally, if ear discomfort persists post-flight, seeking timely medical examination and treatment is advisable to prevent potential complications.