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If you’ve ever flown with a head cold, or have difficulties dealing with pressure changes anyway, you know the problem: during take-off or landing, your ears seem to close and an uncomfortable sensation of pressure develops that can become quite painful.

The feeling of pressure occurs because the air pressure on your eardrum hasn’t adjusted to the surrounding pressure. This may also cause dizziness and nausea owing to the fact that the equilibrium organ is in the middle ear. Normally the pressure in the middle ear adjusts to the surrounding pressure via the Eustachian tubes, which connect the ears to the oral cavity.

There are a few tricks that can help you if your ears don’t adjust to the surrounding pressure on their own. The most well-known trick is yawning. Yawning stretches the mucous membranes in your mouth, enlarging the openings to the Eustachian tubes. This can help you equalize the pressure.

Chewing gum or sucking on a drop has a similar effect. Try this during take-off and landing. The muscles involved move the Eustachian tubes as well, easing the process.

If your ears are still closed after trying the yawing and chewing/sucking techniques, you might carefully try the following commonly-known trick used by divers: take a deep breath, plug your nose and close your mouth. Now try to breathe out through your nose. This raises the pressure in your mouth and throat enough so that the blockage in the Eustachian tubes can be removed, thus allowing the pressure to equalize. But be careful: don’t allow too much pressure to build up - this could lead to more dizziness and nausea.

If you know in advance that you already have problems related to pressure change, or if you happen to have a head cold at the time, bring along a decongesting nasal spray. Use it about a half-hour before your flight. The active ingredient in these nasal sprays decongests the mucous membranes and helps the Eustachian tubes to widen, easing the equalization of pressure in turn. These sprays are usually effective for three to four hours. Use the spray again before landing if the flight is longer.

You should see a doctor (specifically an otolaryngologist) if the pressure in your ears persists after the flight or if you have problems equalizing pressure during slight elevation changes, e.g. driving in the mountains. A doctor will also be able to determine if the problem is more serious, i.e. organ-related.