How To Unpop Ears When Sick? Step by Step

When a cold or sinus infection blocks your Eustachian tube, your ears feel plugged and nothing you do seems to help. The fastest way to unpop them is to reduce the swelling in your nose and throat that is trapping pressure behind your eardrum. That means treating the congestion first, then using gentle pressure maneuvers to help the tube open. Most people get relief within a few days as the infection improves, though it can take longer if your sinuses stay inflamed.

Why Your Ears Feel Plugged When You Are Sick

Your middle ear is a small air-filled space behind the eardrum. It connects to the back of your throat through a narrow channel called the Eustachian tube. That tube does three jobs: it equalizes air pressure on both sides of your eardrum, drains fluid, and protects the ear from germs and sound.

When you catch a cold, flu, or sinus infection, the lining of your nose and throat swells. That swelling narrows the Eustachian tube. Air can no longer move freely in and out of the middle ear, so pressure builds up and the eardrum gets pulled slightly inward. This is why your ear feels full, your own voice sounds hollow, and sounds seem muffled.

In some cases, the tube also traps fluid in the middle ear. This is called otitis media with effusion. It is not necessarily an infection, but it can cause the same plugged feeling and mild hearing loss. Children get this more often than adults because their Eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal.

Allergies can cause the same problem. So can altitude changes, but that is a different situation from being sick.

How To Unpop Ears When Sick? Step by Step

Start by treating the underlying congestion. Pressure maneuvers alone often fail when the tube is swollen shut. You need to open the passage first.

• Step 1: Use a saline nasal spray or rinse. Saline thins mucus and moistens swollen tissue. It is safe to use as often as needed. Nasal rinses with distilled or sterile water can clear out thickened mucus.
• Step 2: Try a decongestant spray for short-term relief. Over-the-counter oxymetazoline spray reduces swelling in the nasal passages. Do not use it for more than three days in a row. Using it longer can cause rebound congestion that makes everything worse.
• Step 3: Take an oral decongestant if your doctor says it is safe for you. Pseudoephedrine can help shrink swollen tissue throughout the nose and throat. It raises blood pressure and can cause insomnia, so check with a pharmacist or doctor if you have heart problems, high blood pressure, or take other medications.
• Step 4: Try the Valsalva maneuver. Take a breath, pinch your nose shut, close your mouth, and gently blow as if blowing your nose. You should feel a small pop as pressure equalizes. Blow gently. Blowing hard can force infected mucus into the middle ear.
• Step 5: Try the Toynbee maneuver. Pinch your nose, close your mouth, and swallow. This creates negative pressure that can pull the tube open. Some people find this works better than blowing.
• Step 6: Yawn or chew gum. Both movements use muscles that open the Eustachian tube. They are gentle and safe to repeat throughout the day.
• Step 7: Apply a warm compress. A warm washcloth over the ear can ease discomfort. It will not open the tube directly, but it helps relax nearby muscles.

If your ears still feel plugged after a week of these steps, or if you have pain, fever, or hearing loss, see a doctor. You may have fluid behind the eardrum that needs to be checked.

Does Popping Your Ears Actually Help or Make It Worse?

Popping can help, but only if you do it gently and only if the tube is not completely blocked. The pop happens when air moves through the Eustachian tube and equalizes pressure. If the tube is swollen shut, no amount of blowing will open it. In that case, you are just forcing pressure against a closed door.

Forceful blowing is the main risk. It can push bacteria-laden mucus from your throat into the middle ear. That can turn a simple congestion problem into a middle ear infection. Doctors sometimes see this in people who blow too hard when they have a cold.

There is also a less obvious risk: repeated hard popping can irritate the eardrum and the tube itself. If you have to strain to get a pop, stop. Treat the congestion instead.

What If Your Ears Stay Plugged for Days?

It is common for ears to stay plugged for several days after a cold. The swelling takes time to go down. In many people, the Eustachian tube returns to normal within one to two weeks.

If it lasts longer than two weeks, or if you notice hearing loss that does not improve, see a doctor. Persistent fluid in the middle ear can affect hearing and may need treatment. In adults, fluid behind the eardrum that lasts for weeks sometimes needs to be evaluated to rule out other causes.

Some doctors recommend a short course of oral steroids or a steroid nasal spray for persistent Eustachian tube dysfunction. The evidence for these treatments is mixed. Some studies show benefit, others do not. This is a decision to make with your doctor, not something to try on your own.

Antibiotics do not help unless there is a confirmed bacterial infection. Most colds are viral. Taking antibiotics for a viral illness will not unpop your ears and can cause side effects.

When Should You See a Doctor for Plugged Ears?

See a doctor if you have any of these:

• Ear pain that is severe or getting worse
• Fever above 100.4°F (38°C)
• Fluid draining from the ear
• Sudden hearing loss
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Symptoms that last more than two weeks

These signs could mean a middle ear infection, a ruptured eardrum, or another condition that needs medical care. Do not try to treat these at home with pressure maneuvers.

What Not To Do When Your Ears Are Plugged

Do not use cotton swabs or any object inside your ear canal. You can push wax against the eardrum or scratch the canal. Neither helps with pressure behind the eardrum.

Do not use decongestant nasal sprays for more than three days. Rebound congestion can make your nose and ears feel worse than before.

Do not fly or scuba dive if you have a bad cold and your ears will not pop. The pressure changes can cause severe pain or eardrum damage. If you must fly, use a decongestant spray about an hour before takeoff and again before landing. Chew gum or swallow during descent.

Do not ignore persistent hearing loss. It is easy to assume it will go away, but if it does not improve within a couple of weeks, get it checked.

How Long Does It Usually Take for Ears To Unpop?

For most people, plugged ears from a cold resolve within a few days to two weeks as the infection clears and swelling goes down. The exact timeline depends on how severe your congestion is and how quickly your body fights off the illness.

If you have allergies on top of a cold, it may take longer. If you have a history of Eustachian tube problems, you may be more prone to this. Children often take longer than adults because their tubes are smaller.

If your ears are still plugged after two weeks, that is a sign to see a doctor. It does not mean something is seriously wrong, but it does mean you need an evaluation.