When you catch a virus, the membranes in your nose and throat swell. That swelling pinches those tiny tubes shut. Mucus also backs up into the space behind your eardrum. Because the tube is blocked, the air inside the ear gets absorbed, creating negative pressure. That suction pulls your eardrum inward.
While the Valsalva maneuver (pinching your nose and blowing) works great for airplane pressure, it can backfire when you are sick. You are essentially forcing bacteria-laden mucus from your nose up into your already inflamed middle ear. This can turn a simple clog into a painful ear infection. how to unclog your ears when sick
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. When you catch a virus, the membranes in