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As airplanes descend prior to landing, air pressure in the cabin increases. This can cause your ear drums to "pop" as they automatically adjust to the airplane's pressure changes.

ADJUST YOUR EARS

If your ear drums don't automatically pop, there are serveral ways to help them to adjust to the pressure changes on board.

Yawning is the easiest way to adjust your ears on board. You can also simply harden the back of your tongue. When I was a flight attendant, I got in the habit of adjusting my ears by hardening the back of my tongue because no one could see me do this.

Another way to adjust your ears is to hold your nostrils and very gently blow out while keeping your mouth shut. Careful! If you blow too hard you can damage your ears.

For infants, offer them something to suck and swallow. This works well for adults, too, as does chewing gum.

Avoid decongestants. Side-effects (dry mouth and drowsiness) exacerbate jetlag.

EASE EAR PAIN

Aerotitis, aka "blocked ear," is very painful and takes place when an ear does not adjust to the airplanes pressure changes. It is often experienced by passengers with colds and ear infections.

The following steam/heat remedy usually clears the blocked ear in seconds.

1. Place an airline paper cocktail napkin in the bottom of a small wax-coated drinking cup (found at galley and lavatory drinking water dispensers).

2. Add boiling water from a galley hot-water spigot covering the paper napkin. If you quickly pour off the water, the napkin will steam.

3. After you are sure you have drained off every drop of hot water, tip your head and place the little cup with hot steaming paper over your ear. Pain eases in moments as the steam reaches your eustachian tube. 

FLYING WITH A COLD

It's common knowledge that viruses recirculate in the cabin air.

• If you plan to fly and have a head cold, please consider canceling, out of compassion for the health of everyone else on board.

• If you do have to fly, wear a surgical mask to keep your germs to yourself!

• A note from your doctor used to ensure that you did not have to pay a "no-show" penalty when cancelling for medical reasons. Though this is no longer guaranteed, it may still be possible with some effort on your part.

FROM READERS

"Thanks for sharing your knowledge about clearing blocked ears. Even though I am not flying at the moment, your advice helped me because I have a cold. It took a few days to clear them completely, but then I have had the cold for weeks." -Sylvia Ellis

"After takeoff, I noticed I was having to 'pop' my ears quite frequently. About 20 minutes after landing, I began to have a nauseous headache. The pain was over the bridge of my nose. I eventually got to sleep and when I awoke, I had had a nosebleed in my sleep. I suppose the cabin pressurization must have burst a blood vessel. "-Martin T. Cresdee