💧 Saline spray (to thin mucus) 👄 Yawn or chew gum 🤿 The Valsalva maneuver (gently— gently —blow while pinching your nose) 💊 A decongestant or nasal spray (short-term use)
When you have a cold, your nasal passages and Eustachian tube (a small tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat) become congested and inflamed. The Eustachian tube is responsible for regulating air pressure in the middle ear and equalizing it with the surrounding environment. When it's blocked, the air pressure in the middle ear can become trapped, leading to a feeling of fullness or blockage in the ears. blocked ears after a cold
If you want to look slightly ridiculous but feel immediate relief, this is the gold standard. You can buy a device (like Otovent) consisting of a balloon and a nosepiece. You blow the balloon up through your nose. The back-pressure forces the Eustachian tubes open. Studies show this is highly effective for shifting stubborn fluid. 💧 Saline spray (to thin mucus) 👄 Yawn