Popping your ears by pulling on them is typically done to unclog your Eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the throat and help regulate pressure [1].
In most cases, popping your ears to rebalance the air pressure in them is not harmful. But if you find that you have to do it frequently, you may have a medical condition that causes your ears to become blocked. If that is the case, you may need to see a doctor.
Gentle Pulling and Rubbing
After stimulating these points: Gently pull your earlobe and the outer ear rim several times. This light traction increases circulation and eases muscle tension. Finish by softly rubbing your entire ear in clockwise or comfortable circular motions to encourage blood flow and relaxation.
“Ear popping occurs when the Eustachian tube opens and balances the pressure in your ear with the atmospheric pressure. Problems occur when the Eustachian tube does not open.”
To relieve ear pain or discomfort, you can take steps to open the eustachian tube and relieve the pressure, such as:
If your ears are plugged, try swallowing, yawning or chewing sugar-free gum to open your eustachian tubes. If this doesn't work, take a deep breath and try to blow out of your nose gently while pinching your nostrils closed and keeping your mouth shut. If you hear a popping noise, you know you have succeeded.
Many times, when people feel they need to pop their ears, it's because they have pressure behind their eardrum, which creates the feeling of fullness and may muffle their hearing. Conditions that can create the feeling of ear fullness include: Traveling at high altitude or on an airplane.
Rubbing the ear is common in younger children (under age 2 or 3). Simple ear pulling without other symptoms such as fever or crying is harmless.
Eargasm - that rare little spark your brain gives you when a song hits in a deep way. It's real, it's measurable, and not everyone gets it.
Tilting your head to the side, gently pulling on your earlobe, or chewing can help drain trapped water. Why do my ears clog up during flights? Rapid changes in air pressure during air travel can affect your middle ear, especially during takeoff and landing.
Signs and symptoms of a ruptured eardrum may include:
Not all GP surgeries remove earwax build-up. Some can: flush the wax out with water (electronic ear irrigation) suck the wax out (microsuction)
Excessive Force: Using excessive force to pop your ears can cause damage to the delicate structures of the middle ear. This can lead to pain, rupture of the eardrum, or hearing loss.
If one ear is congested or infected, sleep with the affected ear facing upward so the unaffected ear supports your head and aids drainage. Avoid sleeping flat or face down, as these positions tend to encourage fluid buildup and increase pressure.
Your ears pop when you swallow or yawn because those actions help open your Eustachian tubes. These tubes connect your middle ear to the back of your nose and throat, and their main job is to balance air pressure.
If your ears won't pop, it's because something is blocking or interfering with the system that equalizes the pressure in your ears. This can lead to a feeling of fullness, pain, or even damage to the eardrum.
Sinus infections and allergiesare frequent culprits, leading to congestion and swelling that block normal airflow and affect the ears. Eustachian tube dysfunction, often triggered by colds or altitude changes, can also leave your ears feeling clogged or full.
Top 10 Tips To Relieve Ear Pressure
The forbidden points—LI4, SP6, BL60, GB21, and CV3—are traditionally avoided during pregnancy due to their potential to induce labor or stimulate strong physiological reactions. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using acupressure to ensure both the safety of the mother and the baby.
Your ear canals can become blocked with a buildup of fluid (ear infection), earwax, dirt or other foreign materials. A blockage can change the pressure in your ear, causing tinnitus. Head or neck injuries. Head or neck trauma can affect the inner ear, hearing nerves or brain function linked to hearing.