Here is the "why" behind the clog, and the safe "how" to pop your ears without hurting your eardrums. Inside your head, tiny canals called Eustachian tubes connect your middle ear to the back of your throat. Their job is to drain fluid and equalize air pressure.
Don’t worry. You aren’t losing your hearing. You’re just dealing with , a very common side effect of colds, flu, and sinus infections.
Instead, breathe in that hot steam, chew some gum (the swallowing helps!), and give your immune system time to win the fight. Your ears will pop eventually—usually at the most random moment, like when you’re biting into a sandwich.