The uncomfortable feeling in the ears during a flight on the plane is called barotrauma. The main reason for barotrauma to occur are quick and frequent changes in air pressure that happen quickly. Normally, the pressure inside the structures of the ear equals the air pressure; however, in particular conditions, the organism may be not able to maintain this normal performance. For example, the vacuum effect might occur, leading to the tympanic membrane pulling inside the ear because of the pressure differences when the air pressure in the middle ear space reduces quickly. The main stimulating factors for the appearance of this phenomenon are small eustachian tubes, diseases related to the structures of the nose like sinusitis or rhinitis and otitis, and napping during rapid pressure changes.
The solution to this problem is simple, as the doctors recommend chewing gum during the takeoff and landing to avoid an uncomfortable experience. Chewing gum is helpful because the structural elements of the ear and the jaw are located close to each other. Therefore, the eustachian tube is stimulated by the chewing movements of the jaw from both sides, which contributes to the faster balance reaching between the air pressure and the pressure inside the ear. Hence, swallowing or yawning can be helpful to avoid barotrauma, too.