Why Do Ears Pop?
Your ears feel like they are popping when there is a difference in the pressure inside and outside your eardrums. The pressure in the middle of your ear is equal to that outside your body. Any changes in the surrounding pressure cause your ears to pop. Flying in an airplane or scuba diving can cause this pressure difference and ear popping. The eustachian tube connects your middle ear to the back of your nose and upper throat. This tube controls the air flow into and out of your middle ear and is responsible for equalizing pressure on the eardrum. It is the opening and closing of this tube through yawning or simply gulping that helps in relieving popping ears. A study estimated that eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is more prevalent in children than in adults. It showed that 0.77 adult visits for every 1 pediatric clinic visit. About 90% of children experience otitis media with effusion, a consequence of ETD, before starting school. It affects around 1% of the adult population, with males being afflicted before the age of 20 and females later in life.
What Causes Ear Popping And Crackling?
Your ears could be popping and crackling due to:
The build-up of earwax in your ears can cause ear crackling with your jaw movement A dysfunctional eustachian tube Tinnitus Vertigo High doses of medications like ibuprofen and some diuretics Presence of a foreign body in the ear – like a trapped insect Microbial infection in the ear Trauma caused by loud noise
Many factors can increase your risk of damaging the eustachian tube. They are:
A respiratory infection Allergy Enlarged adenoids Sudden changes in altitudes
Ear popping is common. But is it always benign? Ear popping can also occur due to an underlying infection. We shed more light on it below.
Is Ear Popping A Sign of Infection?
While ear popping is not typically a direct sign of infection, it can be related to one. Allergic rhinitis and viral infections can lead to dysfunction of the eustachian tube and cause a crackling sound (1). It is a common occurrence that usually happens due to changes in altitude, allergies, or congestion. Ear popping can manifest in various ways. Learn more about them below.
Symptoms Of Ear Popping
Congestion or a sudden change in pressure in your ears A crackling sound in your ears Mild, temporary hearing loss
While these symptoms could usually be mild, it is important to treat them at the earliest. This is where certain home remedies could help.
How To Treat Popping Ears Naturally
10 Home Remedies To Treat Popping Ears
1. Yawning
Yawning can relieve popping ears almost instantly. This is because yawning causes your eustachian tube to open and restores the pressure balance in your middle ear (2). This alleviates symptoms of popping ears.
2. Swallowing
Just like yawning, swallowing causes your eustachian tube to open and balances the pressure inside your ears with the pressure around you.
3. Valsalva Maneuver
The Valsalva maneuver is a breathing technique known to increase the pressure in your chest. It is used for a variety of ailments, including relieving popping ears caused by high altitudes or infections (3).
4. Toynbee Maneuver
The Toynbee maneuver is a technique used to decrease the nasopharyngeal pressure on the middle ear and eustachian tube. It results in the opening of the eustachian tube and relieves popping sensations in the ear by restoring its pressure (4).
5. Apply A Warm Washcloth
Any source of warmth helps relieve a congested or blocked ear that could be causing it to pop. A warm compress thins the mucus and decongests your ears, especially if they are blocked due to a cold or flu. It is a good and safe way to unclog blocked ears. You may try more ways to unblock clogged ears to get effective results.
6. Chewing Gum
Chewing on a piece of gum can also alleviate symptoms of popping ears. This is because chewing gum increases the production of saliva in your mouth, which, in turn, increases your swallowing rate. This helps in opening the eustachian tube and getting rid of popping ears.
7. Suck On Hard Candies
Just like chewing on gum, sucking on a candy increases the number of times you swallow the produced saliva. This, in turn, treats and even prevents popping ears.
8. Nasal Spray
Nasal sprays clear congestion in the nose by reducing the inflammation and swelling in the nasal passage (5). This helps in thinning and getting rid of the excess mucus in your nose and ears. Removal of the excess mucus helps get rid of ear popping caused by congestion due to a cold or flu.
9. Hot Water Bath
Taking a hot bath has almost the same effect as that of a warm compress. It helps in opening up your arteries and liquefying the mucus that could be causing congestion in your ears, helping in getting rid of the constant popping in your ears caused by respiratory infections.
10. Hydrogen Peroxide
Too much wax in the ears is one of the main culprits for causing popping sounds in the ear. Hydrogen peroxide softens earwax and makes its removal easier (6). You can also follow a few tips to avoid this problem.
Tips To Prevent Popping Ears
Yawn or swallow right before take-off and landing. Maintain food hygiene to prevent catching a cold or flu. Exert counter pressure on your eustachian tube by closing your mouth, pinching your nose, and blowing hard. Use filtered earplugs to relieve pressure when you take off or land during a flight.
A combination of these tips and remedies should relieve popping almost immediately. If you notice no improvement, visit your doctor immediately. You must also seek medical attention if you notice any of the following.
When To See A Doctor
See your doctor if:
You can’t unclog your ears for more than two weeks. You have developed sinusitis or an ear infection. You have an allergy. There is a build-up of wax in your ears.
How to avoid ear popping on a plane? You can prevent your ears from popping on a plane by swallowing and yawning back to back before take-off and landing. You can also make use of filtered earplugs for relieving pressure in your ears. Is it bad for your ears to pop? The popping of ears is not a major problem and will not have any long-term effects. But if your symptoms get worse and don’t improve for over two weeks or you develop sinus congestion, consult a doctor. How long does a blocked eustachian tube last? A blocked eustachian tube usually doesn’t last for more than two weeks. If it lasts longer, consult a doctor immediately. How do you know if you have a ruptured eardrum? Your ears may pain severely, there could be drainage from your ears, you might feel a ringing sensation in your ears, or you may even experience complete hearing loss if you have a ruptured eardrum. Can I damage my ears by popping them? No, not unless you apply too much pressure or sneeze harshly. Be gentle and try to release the pressure slowly. What happens if you don’t let your ears pop? You may experience discomfort in your ears and have muffled hearing if you don’t let your ears pop.
Illustration: Ear Popping: 10 Home Remedies And Tips To Prevent It
Ever wondered why your ears pop? Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of ear physiology in this video. It uncovers the surprising reasons behind that familiar popping sensation. Check it out!
