General Question

SadieMartinPaul's avatar

Why do my ears get that "airplane" feeling and then pop when I work out?

Asked by SadieMartinPaul (9027points) July 22nd, 2013

After some serious, rigorous exercise – the sweaty, heavy-breathing, accelerated heart rate kind – my ears get weird, as if I’ve been at a high altitude. They stay that way for a while, and they eventually pop.

Why does this happen? Am I doing something wrong when I breathe?

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4 Answers

Neodarwinian's avatar

That airplane ” pop ” feeling is pressure, air pressure, differentiation.

So, consult a workout expert to see if you are breathing correctly as that inner ear pressure build up is due to something along these lines I would think.

Still, I am not an expert here, so consult one.

hearkat's avatar

Yes, it’s pressure. Are you holding your breath at any point?

I have it happen if someone near me is wearing a fragrance that triggers my allergies, and many deodorants do. Even cleaning products can have that effect on me. So if you have allergies or sensitivities, that may be a factor.

Sometimes blood pressure changes can also mimic that airplane feeling. Is there a way you can check your bp at the gym?

snowberry's avatar

Interestingly, there is one lymph gland located just behind each ear lobe, and very close to the eustachian tube. As I understand it, if it swells, you can get that feeling of having your ears plugged. I suspect that as you exercise, it gets your lymph moving, and your ears pop when that lymph node shrinks.

Seek's avatar

Can you willingly pop your eustacian tubes? I can. Maybe you have the ability to, but don’t know it yet, and you’re subconsciously popping them while you’re lifting?

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