I'm An Ear Doctor – You've Probably Been Popping Your Ear Wrong On Planes

Whenever I take a flight, I always think to myself: “wow, we’ve become so advanced that I’m bored at 30,000 feet.”

The only exceptions are take-off and landing, where the sudden change in speed or slam of wheels against tarmac alerts me to the plane’s mechanical prowess.

It also makes me painfully aware of how air pressure affects my ear canal. Try as I might to get rid of that annoying swimmer’s ear feeling by “popping” them, I always end up with the uncomfortable pressure. 

Turns...