Why Your Ears Hurt Like a Bitch During Flight
Aircraft Ears Explained and Pilot's Tips for Managing Them: Insider Guidance
Let's talk straight about a common flying issue: ear pain and blockage during takeoff and landing. You know that crushing feeling in your head, like a muffled vacuum has invaded your skull, making the world feel eerily quiet? That's what we're diving into. Ready to learn why this happens, how screwed you actually are, and how to help yourself, all while enjoying a side of DailyMail flavor?
Ear Torture: The Science Behind It
William Hosea, a badass pilot, explains the misery. Sudden pressure changes during takeoff and descent are the culprits. Sounds simple, right?
"When an airplane rockets to its cruising altitude of around 10,600 meters, cabin pressure plummets. It's as if you're at an altitude of about 1,800 meters above sea level. The air gets thin, and some folks may start experiencing ear or even tooth troubles," the pilot warns.
As external pressure plunges while internal pressure tries to stay put, your eardrum gets squeezed. This dramatic difference causes your eardrum to bulge or retract, resulting in blockage, muffled sound, and, let's be real, pain.
But we didn't come here for a pain party, did we? We want solutions.
Suffering No More: Pilot's Lifesavers
Good news, anxious flier! William Hosea, not only a pilot but also a guardian angel, offers some simple tactics to prevent or ease the pain.
1. The Valsalva Maneuver. Pinch your nostrils, seal your lips, and give a gentle puff while keeping your mouth closed. This magical trick helps balance pressure - just don't overdo it, or you might pop your eardrum.
2. Swallowing and Yawning. These mouth gymnastics open the Eustachian tube, that magicalchannel connecting your ear to your nasopharynx, helping you maintain equilibrium.
3. Candies and Lozenges. Suck on these suckers to stimulate swallowing and avoid pain before it becomes a problem.
For infants and babies: During takeoff and landing, give them a sucky toy or pacifier - anything to help deal with ear pressure.
The Unfortunate Fate of Cabin Pressure
At those hitch-hiking heights, external atmospheric pressure takes a dive to a third of sea level. To offer passengers some comfort and safety, cabin pressure is kept at an altitude of 1,500-2,400 meters.
With this pressure difference, gases expand - from chip bags inflating to bottles in your luggage leaking like a faucet. Inevitably, your poor ears join the suffering.
During takeoff, pressure inside your ear is higher than in the cabin, making your eardrum bulge outward. During descent, it's the opposite: external pressure increases, but internal pressure hasn't had a chance to equalize, thus making your eardrum retract inward. The signature blockage and deafness sensation arises.
We've Already Explained Why Flights Feel Chilly as Hell, According to a Flight Attendant. Details here.
Before Takeoff, Stuff Your Nose with a Decongestant Pill Like Nafazoline, and You'll Be Golden.
Maira: In such situations, I usually chew gum and hum softly - it helps me.
Myrymbai: Back in ancient times, domains of knowledge were a bit more restricted. Schools conducted experiments by Evangelista Torricelli, a brilliant pioneer, who invented a technique in 1643 that helped people comprehend the existence of air around us. His groundbreaking experiment taught us that we live at the bottom of an ocean made of air, with gravity keeping us there. Today, what he said may sound absurd, but back then, people were blissfully unaware of what we call 'air' now. As altitude elevates, air pressure decreases. When an airplane descends or you go downhill, air pressure surges. Our bodies, including our ear-buds, feel this. In the good old days, airline passengers were pampered with sugar candies. Today, the "Rakhat-Lotte" confectionery factory still produces "Takeoff" candies. Chewing these sweets eases the unpleasantness. But why aren't these treats available on airplanes anymore?
For our users' convenience, we've programmed automated geolocation of comment authors.
Mika: Before Takeoff, Stuff Your Nostrils with a Decongestant Pill Like Nafazoline, and You'll Be Golden.
Maira: In such situations, I usually chew gum and hum softly – it helps me.
Myrymbai: Today, most students learn about the physics of air only in school. Back in the day, schools conducted experiments by Evangelista Torricelli. He devised this experiment in Pisa in 1643, which taught us about the existence of air around us. He wrote in 1644: "We live at the bottom of an aerial ocean, and experiments undeniably prove that air has weight." Today, these words seem amusing, but back then, people had no idea about what we call 'air' now. As altitude increases, air pressure decreases. When an airplane descends or you go downhill, air pressure rises. Our bodies, especially our eardrums, feel this. In the past, airline passengers were given sugar candies to help deal with ear pressure. Today, the "Rakhat-Lotte" confectionery factory still produces "Takeoff" candies. Chewing them alleviates discomfort. But why aren't these candies available on airplanes anymore?
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- William Hosea, a pilot, explains that the crushing feeling in your head during flight is caused by sudden pressure changes during takeoff and landing.
- To prevent or ease the pain caused by ear torture during flights, William Hosea suggests the Valsalva Maneuver, swallowing and yawning, and sucking on candies or lozenges.
- For infants and babies on flights, giving them a sucky toy or pacifier can help deal with ear pressure.
- The pressure difference during flights causes gases to expand, including air in chip bags, bottles in luggage, and air in our ears, leading to discomfort and pain.
- In ancient times, experiments by Evangelista Torricelli helped people understand the existence of air around us, and "Takeoff" candies were used to help passengers deal with ear pressure during flights. However, these candies are no longer available on airplanes today.
