One of the best remedies for the ear discomfort encountered during flying is using the Valsalva maneuver to force air into the back of your nose and equalize air pressure on both sides of the ear drum. Keeping your mouth closed, blow out gently, as if you’re blowing your nose, while pinching your nostrils shut.

This same technique can be used before flying to see if you have upper respiratory congestion that could put you at risk of ear problems in the air. If you do the Valsalva maneuver and can’t pop your ears or feel a change in pressure, you might consider changing your flight or using an oral or nasal decongestant to clear your air passages.

(SOURCE: John Ogle, M.D., MPH, FACEP, “Aerospace medicine,” e-medicine from WebMD, Aug. 29, 2006; “Ears and airplane travel, ear wax, and ear cleaning, Oregon Health & Sciences University)