A Cold — How To Pop Ears When You Have

– never forcefully blow your nose with both nostrils pinched shut. That can push mucus into your ears and make things worse (or cause an infection).

Try these gentler methods instead 👇

Use a saline spray or a Neti pot (with distilled or boiled-cooled water). Reducing nasal swelling often relieves ear pressure. how to pop ears when you have a cold

A deep, exaggerated yawn stretches the muscles around your Eustachian tubes. Fake it till you make it. – never forcefully blow your nose with both

Take a sip of water, then pinch your nose and swallow at the same time. This is much safer than the Valsalva (forcefully blowing out while pinching your nose) when you have a cold. Reducing nasal swelling often relieves ear pressure

Save this for your next cold (or share it with someone who needs to hear it – literally).

You know the feeling: your nose is running, your head is heavy, and your ears feel like they’re stuffed with cotton. That happens because a cold can swell your Eustachian tubes (the tiny passageways between your middle ear and throat), trapping fluid or air.