That muffled, underwater feeling in your ears after a flight—technically known as or "airplane ear"—occurs when the air pressure in your middle ear doesn't match the pressure in the environment. While usually temporary, it can be incredibly uncomfortable.
Pinch your nose and use your tongue to make a "clicking" or "K" sound against the roof of your mouth. 2. Physical Movements and Exercises how to pop ears after flying
During takeoff, cabin pressure drops rapidly. Your ears naturally push air out (usually without you noticing). As the plane descends, pressure rises quickly. The outside air pushes your eardrum inward. To equalize, air needs to travel up the Eustachian tube into the middle ear. But if that tube is swollen from a cold, allergies, or even just sleep, it collapses shut—trapping a vacuum inside your ear. That muffled, underwater feeling in your ears after
