Airline pilot in the United States shares secret strategy for managing ear pressure during flight, which appears to involve being fatigued.
US airline pilot Captain Steeeve has shared a simple hack to help alleviate ear pressure during takeoff and landing, a common issue for many passengers. This hack, known as the "yawn and Valsalva maneuver," could potentially change the way people travel by reducing discomfort.
The hack involves two easy-to-perform techniques that open the Eustachian tubes and equalize ear pressure.
- Yawning naturally opens the Eustachian tubes, helping balance pressure between the middle ear and the cabin environment.
- The Valsalva maneuver consists of pinching your nostrils shut, closing your mouth, and gently blowing air out as if trying to clear your ears without letting air escape through your nose. This helps push air into the Eustachian tubes to open them and equalize pressure.
These actions relieve ear discomfort caused by pressure changes during airplane ascent or descent by allowing pressure inside the middle ear to match the outside air pressure. The key is to perform the Valsalva maneuver gently to avoid injury.
Other tips include swallowing frequently and chewing gum, which also stimulate the Eustachian tubes to open, preventing ear barotrauma during flights.
Many aviation fans have expressed gratitude for this hack shared by Captain Steeeve online. One user, after using the hack on a flight, thanked Captain Steeeve, while another user mentioned feeling relieved by the hack, wishing they had known about it earlier on a previous flight.
The hack is useful for early morning and late-night flights, and it doesn't require any additional equipment. Captain Steeeve's hack and actions can be viewed in a video below.
[1] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Ear barotrauma. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ear-barotrauma/symptoms-causes/syc-20374524 [2] American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. (2021). Ear barotrauma. https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/ear-barotrauma/ [4] National Health Service. (2021). Ear barotrauma. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-barotrauma/ [5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Ear Barotrauma. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aviation/earbarotrauma.html
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