Why should you wear earplugs on an airplane?

Do you experience pain while flying? Do you dread travelling by plane knowing that your eardrums will hurt? Beware! Such suffering is avoidable! To solve this problem, there is quite a simple solution: earplugs for flying!

Why do we suffer from earaches when travelling by plane?

The atmospheric pressure within an airplane is evidently lower than the one recorded on the ground. Moreover, it almost equals the atmospheric pressure that is found at high altitudes in mountains (i.e. 2.000 meters on average). Despite airplanes being depressurized, it is difficult to obtain the exact same atmospheric pressures as on the ground. The process also demands a lot of kerosene which makes it costly.

Earaches are caused by a difference in internal & external pressure. To adjust itself, our body relies on the Eustachian tube which is a tube that links the nasopharynx to the middle ear. The air located in the middle ear is never in direct contact with the atmosphere outside the ear. An active opening of the Eustachian tube is required to equalize the pressure between the middle ear and the surrounding atmosphere, especially on a plane.

This is a gradual process and takes a bit of time. Travelling by plane, the pressure variation is too brutal and too violent for our ears to be able to adjust adequately. The time it takes for our ears to adapt themselves is too long. As a consequence, the difference in pressure draws out our tympanic membranes.

How do earplugs for flying work?

Earplugs for flying serve as a “pad” in order to reduce the impact of the atmospheric variations. This has several advantages:

1. Reduce the discomfort and the ache;
2. Counter hearing losses;
3. Avoid having blocked ears.

In several serious cases, people suffering from earaches on planes can also have the following health issues:

1. Dizziness;
2. Ringing in the ears;
3. Bleedings;
4. Vomiting.

To enjoy your journey to the fullest, take care of your ears by wearing earplugs while flying. Safe travel!