Why do our ears get blocked when the plane is taking off and landing?
As the plane takes off the cabin pressure is also reduced to correspond to a height of 6000 ft or so above sea level and it is maintained at that level though the plane reaches a height of about 25000 to 30000 feet above sea level to reduce the friction with the outside air. The eustachian tubes adjust the internal and external pressures to suit the reduced cabin pressure. When the plane starts descending, the pressure difference doesn’t equalise that readily and we get the blocked sensation and may even suffer pain. The simplest way for preventing this is to keep chewing (that is why they provide toffees while the plane is taking off, not because they love us!) and also to plug the ears with cotton. Another effective method is to take a deep breath in, close the mouth and the nostrils by pinching with the fingers and try to exhale. You will notice the ear drums trying to move outwards and the internal pressure, which got reduced will again become equal to the cabin pressure.
The inequality of pressure between the Pharangyal cavity and the Aeroplane Cabin Due to an air pocket in the middle ear that is sensitive to air pressure changes, the changing altitude as the plane takes off or lands can cause discomfort in the ears. The middle ear consists of the ear drum and the ossicles (three bones that are joined together). Swallowing or yawning usually can help “pop” the ears (activating the muscle that opens the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx) and ease the discomfort. However, ears that are already blocked (by a cold, for example) cannot equalize the air pressure in the middle ear adequately, therefore, creating a vacuum that sucks the eardrum in and stretches it. When the eardrum cannot vibrate, sound is muffled and the stretched eardrum can be very painful. If swallowing or yawning do not relieve the ears try the following ear-clearing technique: • Pinch the nostrils shut. • Breathe in through the mouth. • Force the air int
