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Glam Fame Journal

How do you pop your ear when its blocked?

Author

Matthew Barrera

Updated on April 08, 2026

How do you pop your ear when its blocked?

Try forcing a yawn several times until the ears pop open. Swallowing helps to activate the muscles that open the eustachian tube. Sipping water or sucking on hard candy can help to increase the need to swallow. If yawning and swallowing do not work, take a deep breath and pinch the nose shut.

Why can I manually pop my ears?

ET tubes are the reason your ears “pop” on airplanes and in elevators. That feeling comes from when there’s a buildup of pressure in your middle ear, causing your Eustachian tubes to suddenly open. When they open, the pressure equalizes, and your ear drums move—exactly what you’re feeling.

Will a clogged ear unclog itself?

Even though a clogged ear may not cause pain or discomfort, muffled sounds and straining to hear can be a real nuisance. Your ear may unblock on its own within hours or days.

How long does a blocked ear take to unblock?

Ears that are clogged from water or air pressure may be resolved quickly. Infections and earwax buildup can take up to a week to clear up. In some circumstances, especially with a sinus infection that you’re having a hard time shaking, it can take longer than a week.

How do you get pressure out of your ear?

To relieve ear pain or discomfort, you can take steps to open the eustachian tube and relieve the pressure, such as:

  1. Chew gum.
  2. Inhale, and then gently exhale while holding the nostrils closed and the mouth shut.
  3. Suck on candy.
  4. Yawn.

How do you tell if your eustachian tube is blocked?

Symptoms of Eustachian tube dysfunction

  1. Your ears may feel plugged or full.
  2. Sounds may seem muffled.
  3. You may feel a popping or clicking sensation (children may say their ear “tickles”).
  4. You may have pain in one or both ears.
  5. You may hear ringing in your ears (called tinnitus).

Why do my ears feel like they need to pop?

Feeling ear pressure is a common occurrence. It can occur due to things like altitude changes, colds, or allergies. You can typically treat the causes of ear pressure at home through swallowing or yawning to “pop” your ears or by taking OTC medications.

When should I be worried about a blocked ear?

A clogged ear could have numerous potential causes: Growths: Your ears can get growths, bulges, and lumps which can even obstruct your ears. Irreversible loss of hearing: Some kinds of hearing loss feel a lot like a blocked ear. If your “clogged ear” is lasting longer than it should, you need to get it checked out.

How long should a clogged ear last?

My ears feel clogged and it hurts Ear infections are very common and can be caused by many things, including sinus infections, excess mucus, allergies, and even smoking. Clogged ears from a mild ear infection usually last one or two weeks. If the problems are in the inner ear, this could last longer.