Flying Comfortably: How to Relieve Sinus and Ear Pressure

Passengers seated inside of a commercial passenger airplane. Tra
Passengers seated inside of an airplane.

Republished from Healthline.com

If you must travel with a sinus or ear infection, there are ways to relieve pressure and ease pain before and during your flight.

Below are some tips for relieving sinus and ear pain and pressure during a flight:

Seek medical care

Before your flight, speak with a healthcare professional to make sure you’re experiencing a sinus infection, as its symptoms are similar to:

  • the common cold
  • allergies
  • the flu
  • COVID-19

A healthcare professional can provide you with appropriate treatment.

Use decongestants

Decongestants, available as pills and nasal sprays, work by shrinking the lining of your swollen nasal passages, allowing drainage in your sinuses. You can take the decongestant 30 minutes before your flight to relieve pressure and pain.

Try to avoid taking topical decongestants (decongestants you apply directly to the nasal cavity) for more than 7 days. Overuse of this medication can lead to rhinitis medicamentosa, or rebound congestion. This condition can cause inflammation in the lining of the nasal cavity, increasing nasal congestion.

Avoid sleeping during takeoff and landing

Sleeping while the plane ascends or descends can limit how often you swallow, affecting how often you pop your ears. Try to stay awake during the flight, or if you fall asleep, be sure to wake up before the plane takes off or begins to land.

Chew gum or drink water

Chewing gum and drinking water can pop your eustachian tube to temporarily relieve pressure and pain from sinus or ear infections.

Do the Valsalva maneuver

The Valsalva maneuver is a breathing technique where you blow air through the eustachian tube to relieve pressure.

Here are the steps for doing the Valsalva maneuver:

  1. Pinch your nose close.
  2. Close your mouth.
  3. Gently blow your nose for 10–15 seconds.
  4. Repeat steps as necessary.
  • It’s best to avoid flying if you have a sinus or ear infection, as the change in air pressure can aggravate your symptoms.
  • If you must travel, be sure to take medications beforehand, swallow often, and use the Valsalva method for temporary relief.
  • If your sinus infection symptoms do not clear up within a week or so, seek medical care.

At Pacific Head and Neck, we employ thorough evaluation and treatment regimes. Call our office today for an appointment with our top Los Angeles ENT physicians and Audiologists.

If you have any questions, feel free to call us at (310) 477-5558.

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