Actually, there is! Here are the top suggestions that I found:

• Take an allergy tablet or decongestant about an hour before the descent. Nasal sprays can also be used but discontinue use afterward since these can cause more congestion by overuse.

• Swallow hard. Swallowing makes the muscle that opens the Eustachian tubes begin to work. It's a good idea to practice this technique if your traveling by plane just before your take-off and landing.

• Chew gum. Any change in the altitude usually causes the Eustachian tubes to close. Be prepared and carry a pack of gum. The chewing action opens the tubes and relieves pressure.

• Suck on a mint or hard candy. Let a mint dissolve slowly in your mouth. The repeated swallowing will help pop your ears.

• Yawn wide. Don't fall asleep unless you've had a decongestant. Your ears won't pop automatically. When you awake you'll feel like your head has been inside a pressure cooker. Yawning helps to stretch the tubes and open them up.

• Pop your ears by first pinching your nostrils closed. Then, take a deep breath and hold it as you close your mouth. Finally, with your cheek and throat muscles forcefully press the air into the back of your nose. Repeat this as needed until you hear a pop sound or feel relieved.

• Seek help from a doctor if the pressure won't go away. If all of these steps have been tried and your Eustachian tubes are still blocked a doctor can make a small incision in the ear drum to pop your ears for you.

After trying ALL of these methods except for surgery (yikes!), and I still felt pressure 'in there' and wasn't satisfied. That made me begin thinking that surely, we at Rehabmart sold an item for this condition.

The EarPopper  has been clinically proven to relieve negative ear pressure. Negative ear pressure can cause:

The EarPopper device is currently being used in practioners' offices around the world for helping relieve ear pressure and treating the problem at the source - The Eustachian Tube.

The Eustachian Tube (ET) is the body's only mechanism for equalizing pressure and ventilating the space behind the eardrum (Middle Ear). The ET normally opens when you swallow or yawn. When functioning normally the ET keeps the middle ear ventilated and the pressure equalized.

When the ET doesn't function normally - and the middle ear isn't ventilated properly - the middle ear becomes a closed space with unbalanced pressure. An unbalanced middle ear forces pressure on the eardrum which is not only uncomfortable, but also affects your hearing. This closed space also cannot drain properly - resulting in fluid build up behind the eardrum.

When you mix a dark, moist, unbalanced middle ear space with the common cold or allergies - you have the perfect breeding ground for an infection.

The EarPopper helps avoid and even eliminate an unbalanced middle ear. The EarPopper opens the ET with air. It is fast, simple and completely safe as proven in numerous clinical studies - including the latest study published in the Ear, Nose & Throat Journal and funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Based on a 120 year old proven medical procedure called Politzerization, the EarPopper gently opens the Eustachian tubes with air.

The treatment only takes a few seconds and it's safe for children and adults.

Unlike other products on the market that make similar claims, the EarPopper device is the only clinically proven, FDA cleared device that is used and recommended by Healthcare Practitioners around the world.

In an NIH (National Institutes of Health) funded clinical study on children, the EarPopper restored hearing to normal limits in 85% of the children without surgery or medication.

In other studies published in the Peer Reviewed ENT Journal and the Journal of Audiology, the EarPopper demonstrated the safety and efficacy of relieving ear pressure problems in both Children and Adults.

Don't be fooled by imitations or gadgets making similar claims. The EarPopper is the only clinically proven, non-invasive, non-drug related treatment device for the most common ear problems.

In the U.S.A., the EarPopper is FDA cleared and is available by prescription only.

Does that mean that this very cool little gadget is unsafe?

The EarPopper is extremely safe. A recent clinical study funded by NIH (National Institutes of Health) was conducted on children and demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the device. There is no pressure in the ear until swallowing occurs. During swallowing, the pressure in the ear is controlled by the device at a very safe level. The total duration of pressure is less than one second.

Ok, but, does it hurt?

The familiar "popping" of the ears is caused by the opening of the Eustachian tube during swallowing. This is nature's own way of relieving pressure imbalance in the middle ear. The sensation of the ear "popping" during the EarPopper treatment is important because it indicates the treatment is working. The popping can be experienced as ranging from practically no sensation at all to a momentary mild feeling of pressure. The EarPopper has different settings to accommodate different tolerances of the sensation. Most of the children in the clinical study tolerated the sensation very well. Many even thought it was fun.

Then why does it require a prescription?

In the United States, the FDA has deemed the EarPopper as a prescription-only device. It is necessary for a medical care provider to determine the EarPopper is suitable for your specific ear problems.

Where can you get one of your very own?

Denise Kelley, Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
RehabMart Team Leader & CEO