Top tips for air travel

Restrictions are easing and foreign travel and summer holidays are on the horizon!

Did you know ear problems are the most common medical complaint for air travel?  From simple discomfort to temporary pain or hearing loss, these tips should help you avoid them.

• Clear the back of your nose before flying. Using nasal sprays or steam inhalation for a few days prior to travel.

• Keep swallowing during decent – try chewing mints or gum or yawning

• Do not sleep during take off or landing as you will not swallow enough!

• Pinching your nose shut and swallowing

• Ear plugs can protect the outer ear from sudden changes and reduce the need to swallow so frequently

• Babies cannot equalize their ears like adults so try feeding or giving them a dummy during decent

• It is important that the outer ear is not completely blocked because this will also cause unequal pressure

It is important to remove excessive build up or wax blocking the ear canal prior to travel. If you would like an ear check prior to travel please get in touch to arrange an appointment.