03/29/2026
How many of you struggle with ear pressure, especially after flying?
We see this all the time with kids, but adults deal with it just as much, especially when there’s congestion involved. That plugged, full feeling, the pressure that just won’t release, it’s frustrating.
This is one of our go-to maneuvers.
Most people immediately go to the classic move, pinch the nose and blow. That’s the Valsalva maneuver, and it can work. But when it doesn’t, that’s usually a sign the issue isn’t just pressure, it’s congestion sitting in that Eustachian tube system.
Instead of trying to force it from the inside, we flip the approach.
Warm your hands, cup them over your ears to create a seal, then gently pump to build pressure. After a few pulses, pull your hands away quickly. That external release can help clear things when pushing from the inside isn’t doing the job.
It’s simple, it’s effective, and it works with how the body is actually designed.
And if this is something happening over and over again, don’t just manage the symptom, start asking why it keeps happening in the first place.
Give it a try and tell us how it works!
