| | Action | |----------|-------------| | 1 hour before descent | Use nasal decongestant spray (Afrin). | | During descent (last 30–45 min of flight) | Stay awake, chew gum, yawn, swallow, or perform gentle Valsalva every few minutes. | | Infants/toddlers | Nurse, bottle-feed, or give pacifier during descent. | | If you have a cold/allergies | Postpone flight if possible. If not, use decongestant 30 min before descent. |
A doctor may:
Never force Valsalva to the point of pain. That can rupture your eardrum. Gentle and frequent is always better than hard and rare. how to fix your ears after a flight
Chew gum, yawn widely, or swallow repeatedly to open the Eustachian tubes. | | Action | |----------|-------------| | 1 hour